35 People Rescued From Ice Slab On Northern MN Lake

BELTRAMI COUNTY, MN — Beltrami County authorities say 35 people had to be rescued from a lake Sunday night after a slab of ice broke away from the shore due to strong winds.

At around 4:50 p.m., the Beltrami County Emergency Communications Center received reports that between 40 and 50 people had become stranded on an ice chunk that detached from shore on Upper Red Lake.

There was about 50 feet of open water separating the ice chunk from the main ice connected to shore, authorities said.

County deputies and other emergency responders arrived on the scene and determined that due to the size of the separation, an airboat would be needed to rescue the people who were stranded.

During the rescue, strong winds further blew the ice chunk and the separation grew to a couple hundred feet, officials said.

Just after 8 p.m. Sunday, all 35 people who needed to be evacuated from the ice were back on the shore. There were no injuries reported and no one had fallen into the water, according to authorities.

County deputies were assisted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers, Kelliher Fire Department, Kelliher First Responders, Blackduck Ambulance, Bemidji Ambulance, Bemidji Fire Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, and area resorts.

"The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office reminds those who venture on the ice that the unseasonably warm weather combined with recent rain have resulted in inconsistent ice conditions," the agency said in a statement.

"At least four inches of clear new ice is recommended for walking. Ice can never be considered 100 percent safe. If you become stranded on the ice, call for help. We would rather have trained responders assist than someone falling in the water."