Borough warns residents about deteriorating ice conditions

MAT-SU — If you have plans to play on the ice this weekend, or in the coming weeks, Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services asks you to please use caution.

West Lakes Fire Department Chief Bill Gamble said recent unseasonably warm weather and rain has led to pools of standing water beneath the remaining snow cover on area lakes.

“Being on the ice right now in any capacity could be hazardous,” he said. “Everyone needs to really pay attention to the ice conditions right now.”

Thursday afternoon, emergency services announced no rescue trucks or ambulances were permitted to drive out on the ice at Big Lake — fire trucks are never allowed on the ice — but at that time said it was due to standing water and slush that could cause the heavy vehicles to get stuck. By Friday morning, after rain fell throughout the night, emergency services added all vehicles, besides snowmachines, to the prohibited list.

Gamble said personnel will not go out on the ice unless it is for a rescue, and then only with personal flotation devices and the proper training to take care of themselves should they punch through.

“If people aren’t really aware of what’s going on, they could get themselves in a bad situation quickly,” he said.

So far, the Northern Lights 300 and a prep ski race have been canceled due to poor ice and snow conditions.

Gamble said without an extend cold spell, the ice will continue to deteriorate rapidly.

“The ice on Big Lake is as thin as 13 inches in some places,” he said. “It may look good, but it may not be safe. You can’t really tell what’s under there right now.”

Anyone planning to go out onto the ice should pay attention to their surroundings and be prepared for trouble.

“I wouldn’t go out there unless I had a life jacket on,” Gamble said.

Some of the biggest events of the winter are still to come this season, including the Iron Dog and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which leave from Big Lake and Willow Lake respectively.

First up is the Iron Dog, scheduled for the weekend of Feb. 15-16 on Big Lake in conjunction with the community’s third annual Winterfest.

Iron Dog Race Director Kevin Kastner said there is still time for the weather to change and no change of location is planned at present. He said the race committee is discussing ideas for alternate locations should relocation be necessary.

Iron Dog trail class starts Feb. 14 and pro class racers leave the chute Feb. 16.

“It’s important to note that every year, regardless of Southcentral conditions (good or bad), our racers encounter every imaginable condition along the route,” Kastner said. “Open water, warm temperatures, no snow, 6 feet of powder, extreme cold, low visibility, etc., etc.”

A trifling thing such as weak lake ice won’t stall Iron Dog — an event known for its field of hardcore, body armor-clad racers.

“Remember, we don’t call Iron Dog the toughest snowmachine race just to have a catchy title,” Kastner said.

Mat-Su Plunge also is set for Feb. 15 on Wasilla Lake. Mat-Su SERTOMA President Paula Nance said that if necessary, jumpers will stand on the dock and jump from there. She said the ice was 30 inches thick last year and 33 the year before.

“We’re going to figure it out,” she said. “We’re not going to cancel the event.”

Contact Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.