No Victim Found in Submerged Snowmobile Incident; Ice Safety Warning for New Hampshire
OutdoorHub 01.06.13
Thursday, January 3, 2013 at about 4:00 pm, two New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers on routine patrol discovered a partially submerged snowmobile in Emerson Pond in Rindge, N.H. The Conservation Officers contacted the Rindge Fire Department, which in turn requested Winchendon, Massachusetts, Fire Department’s hovercraft in an effort to look for potential victims.
Conservation Officers and Rindge Police and Fire personnel canvassed nearby homes in hopes of identifying the operator, but were unsuccessful. The hovercraft was able to reach the snowmobile, which had slipped under the ice just as firefighters were attaching a rope to it. Personnel on scene reported that they could not locate a victim, but did report seeing frozen footprints leaving the opening in the ice. Due to this information, as well as poor ice conditions and darkness, operations were suspended until this morning.
This morning (January 4, 2013) Conservation Officers, with assistance from Rindge and Jaffrey fire departments, used the Fish and Game Dive Team’s underwater remote camera to view the area beneath the ice. The camera was effective and visibility was good. There was no sign of a victim.
The Department of Environmental Services has been notified and will be facilitating the removal of the snowmobile when conditions permit.
The incident remains under investigation by the N.H. Fish and Game Department and N.H. Department of Environmental Services.
ICE SAFETY GUIDELINES:
Despite recent frigid temperatures, ice conditions across the state are marginal, according to Fish and Game. Recent high winds and heavy snow loads have delayed the formation of solid ice in many locations. Thin ice and open water are present on many water bodies across the state. Do not assume the ice is safe and please observe the following guidelines before making the decision to head out onto the ice:
In winter, before you venture out onto any frozen pond or lake to ice fish, snowmobile, ski or snowshoe, play it safe by following these important guidelines for ice safety:
- It is not advisable to drive vehicles onto the ice.
- If on foot, carefully assess ice safety before venturing out by using an ice chisel or auger to determine ice thickness and condition. Continue to do this as you get further out on to the ice, because the ice thickness will not be uniform all over the water body.
- Though all ice is potentially dangerous, the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, N.H., offers a “rule of thumb” on ice thickness: There should be a minimum of six inches of hard ice before individual foot travel, and eight to ten inches of hard ice for snow machine or All-Terrain Vehicle travel.
- Remember – thick ice does not always mean safe ice! Ice can be thick, but not strong, because of varying weather conditions. Weak ice is formed when warming trends break down ice, then the slushy surface re-freezes.
- Be especially careful of areas with current, such as inlets, outlets and spring holes, where the ice can be dangerously thin.
- Stay off the ice along the shoreline if it is cracked or squishy. Don’t go on the ice during thaws.
- Watch out for thin, clear or honeycombed ice. Dark snow and ice may also indicate weak spots.
- Small bodies of water tend to freeze thicker. Rivers and lakes are more prone to wind, currents and wave action that weaken ice.
- Don’t gather in large groups or drive large vehicles onto the ice.
- If you do break through the ice, don’t panic. Move or swim back to where you fell in, where you know the ice was solid. Lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard. This will help lift your body onto the ice. Carry a set of ice picks; they can help you pull yourself out if you do fall through the ice; wear them around your neck or put them in an easily accessible pocket. Once out of the water, roll away from the hole until you reach solid ice.
Ice safety is very important for snowmobilers. Don’t assume a trail is safe just because it exists; ask about trail conditions at local snowmobile clubs or sporting goods shops before you go.
To download the brochure from N.H. Fish and Game, Safety on Ice – Tips for Anglers, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Fishing/Fishing_PDFs/Ice_Safety_Brochure.pdf.
