Upper Red Lake Ice Rescue

Updated Statement:

Before emergency responders arrived on scene, bystander attempts via a canoe to evacuate were attempted. Four individuals fell into the open water during this attempt. They were brought back to the ice floe to warm in a fishing shelter. Emergency responders were able to evacuate the first four fishermen from the ice floe at 6:40 p.m. At 7:37 p.m. it was determined that all stranded fishermen needing to be evacuated had been brought to the main shoreline.

A total of 122 individuals were evacuated from the ice floe. No injuries were reported and only the four that fell from the canoe ended up in the water.

Original story:

Another ice rescue is underway on the Upper Red Lake in northern Minnesota. Beltrami County Emergency officials issued the following statement around 6:30 p.m.

A large ice chunk has broken off the main ice on Upper Red Lake and 75-100 fishermen are stranded. If you are on the ice floe, head towards the southeast towards Rogers On Red. Check your surroundings, you may not know you are on the ice floe. Emergency responders are evacuating from the southeast part of the ice floe. If you encounter ice that is too thin to safely evacuate, stay where you are and call 911. Watch for open water, evacuate slowly so you do not go in the water.

On Thursday the Minnesota DNR issued a warning about changing ice conditions statewide. There have been multiple ice rescues in recent weeks. Check back for further updates.