Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 02/01) - The Yellowknife fire department is warning people in the city not to be over-anxious in getting out on the ice this year.

About a day after the ice froze solidly on Back Bay, concerned citizens called the fire department after some kids set up a hockey game on it.

"An adult down there had done ice-testing," explained Yellowknife fire chief Mick Beauchamp. "They found it to be about six inches thick and they were safe as long as they stayed there."

Beauchamp said firefighters went to the scene on Oct. 28 and spotted the kids, being supervised by adults, near the shore of the bay.

"Most areas of Great Slave Lake are not conducive to public use," he said, adding it is up to each individual to test the ice they are using and be responsible. "We test at selected points but that does not mean all ice (on that body of water) is that thickness," Beauchamp added. "We cannot tell people the ice is safe."

The fire department can tell the public what to keep in mind.

Any lake and river can be less than the recommended depth of 10 centimetres for walking or skiing, or 15 centimetres for snowmobiles. That is due to underwater current and poor freezing, for example.

Non-named bodies of water can not be deemed safe because of marsh gases that impede freezing.

Regular ice assessments to do not consider the effects overflow may have.

Annual areas known to have poor ice conditions include Jackfish Lake, because of heat produced by the diesel power plant.

Other areas are the reef near Mosher Island, the Mc-Keekan causeway, Yellowknife River and the narrows between the boat launch and Prosperous Lake.

A woman drowned last year at the narrows while snowmobiling and a fisher went through the ice at Mosher Island.

"It just goes to show you," Beauchamp said. "Last year was a tough year for ice formation because there was lots of snow and the ice seemed to take a long time."