Ice Melted Around Fisherman On Budd Lake: Police

MOUNT OLIVE, NJ — Mount Olive police are issuing another warning about staying off Budd Lake, after five fishermen had to be helped off the ice Tuesday afternoon.

Police say five men had ventured out onto the lake to fish off of Budd Lake Municipal Beach. Although not in distress, the ice around the men began to melt while they were out on the lake, due to salt from the roads running into the lake.

Budd Lake and Flanders Rescue helped the men find a stable ice patch and all exited the lake without incident.

Police are warning people to stay off of the lake, even if it seems frozen enough. A natural lake, Budd Lake feeds the Raritan River and must have substantially cold temperatures for a prolonged period before it is truly frozen.

"If you are not sure how to test the ice, you are strongly encouraged not to do activities on any ice without researching how to perform these activities safely. Please avoid a tragedy, and do not go on Budd Lake as it is never 100% frozen," police said.

Budd Lake is a natural lake, and feeds the Raritan River South.

Two Mount Olive teens died in 2013 when they fell through the ice. Nick Cianciotto and Clyde Schimanski both lost their lives in early January after venturing out onto the lake.

Image via Google Maps