Cochrane Fire Services cannot drill the message in enough that residents need to stay off the ice. 

While no one should be on the stormwater retention ponds at any point, says Inspector Jeff Avery with Cochrane Fire, he says this time of year is extremely dangerous with fluctuating springtime temperatures. "Ice safety right now with some of the temperatures we have seen is critically important. If anybody sees anyone walking on the retention ponds or playing on the ice, they have to give 911 a call."

After digging holes into the ice on the stormwater retention pond by Bow Valley High School, Captin Martin Reuter with Cochrane Fire explains why the ice is so dangerous this time of year. "Ice forms from the bottom up, so from the lake water surface to the top during the winter. The ice is nice and clear and as spring comes in it forms candles or what we call candling, and that is why the ice is so insecure and unsafe to be on because it just breaks into little chards."

This is such a dangerous time for ice rescues, says Avery. "I have even seen footprints along the ice by the river and when the river drops when they close the dam there is a void space. Ice along the river is so unstable and dangerous that no one should be anywhere along the river bank walking on the ice."

Retention ponds and other bodies of water are not tested, yet year after year visible signs of foot traffic prove people are not getting the message. "These are not surfaces that get flooded or checked, and we have no idea the depth. With the ice going up and down all the time with the thaw, there can be many layers, but we have no idea how thick it actually is.

The only two ice surfaces in Cochrane that are approved for recreational ice use are Mitford Pond and the Tim Bannister outdoor rink which were both closed on March 19th for the season.

"No one should be on the ponds at any time whether it is 30 below or temperatures like we are experiencing this week."