There were at least four incidents involving ATV/UTV vehicles going through the ice in area lakes this past weekend, including one fatality in Fifield, according to official accounts.
FIFIELD FATALITY
A 76 year old man was operating a UTV on Byhre Lake in the town of Fifield, when he drove over an ice carousel and the UTV submerged into the water in the late afternoon of Friday, Feb. 9, according to Recreation Warden Robin Miller, who covers Ashland, Price, Iron, Vilas, and Bayfield counties. The man, who was alone in the UTV, wasn’t able to extricate himself from the water, she said.
“He couldn’t get himself out of the water,” Miller said. “The ice deteriorated because of the ice carousel and was in poor condition.”
An ice carousel is a circular piece of ice that is cut out of a larger body of water in a frozen lake to give a spinning effect. The carousels are most often manmade.
A DNR conservation warden is leading the investigation into the fatality. Responders from Fifield Fire Department also responded.
The DNR recently published an ice safety guide that anyone who plans to be on the ice this winter should read, Miller said.
“It talks about being aware of cracks, springs and currents, and knowing about snow coverage and safety equipment,” she said. “And it talks about steps for self ice rescue.”
CLOSE CALL IN FLAMBEAU FLOWAGEThe Iron County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an ATV going through the ice on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage about one-quarter mile off shore from the Springstead Landing at approximately 3:06 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, according to the report filed by Deputy Eric Snow who responded to the scene. Deputy Snow walked several hundred yards on the ice to locate the man, Gerald Yunk, who was already with four Sherman First Responders who were dispatched to assist the Springstead Volunteer Fire Department on the call. Yunk was reportedly operating a cousin’s ATV when he went through the ice, and was able to escape the vehicle and the water but was stranded.
The deputy and EMR volunteers assisted Yunk off the ice to a residence on nearby Simmons Road. The EMR staff attended to Yunk until care was transferred to the Park Falls Ambulance Service, according to the Sherman First Responders.
Snow then briefed DNR Conservation Warden Robin Miller who arrived to assume command of the scene. The owner of the ATV arrived with others to attempt to remove the ATV before dark.
BUTTERNUT TRAGEDY AVERTEDMultiple sources said there was one or more persons involved in an ATV/UTV going through the ice in Butternut Lake over the weekend. According to the Price County Sheriff’s Office, the lake area is a border between Price and Ashland counties, and it was not clear who would have responded because the call was over before deputies would have been on hand.
Price County Sheriff Brian Schmidt said the ATV operator and/or passengers were able to free themselves from the vehicle and the water. They made their way to a phone to call 911 and Price County Emergency Communications Center then dispatched an ambulance to the callers.
It was a medical call and there were no other issues with people on the ice in the area and so there was no need to investigate further, Schmidt said.
The Price County area incidents are not exclusive to the area and there was at least one other report of a UTV going through the ice and into the water in the Minocqua area, Warden Miller said.
“So yeah, there’s definitely some issues with ice, so we’re just encouraging people to be very careful,” she said.
A DNR press release is reminding the public that no ice is safe ice and is urging people to practice ice safety. Temperature swings, mixed precipitation and other factors are making ice unsafe to walk or drive on across much of the state, despite recent snowfall and subzero temperatures.
The DNR does not monitor ice conditions. If winter planning includes an ice-covered waterbody, contact the local fishing clubs, bait shops or outfitters for ice conditions. These places routinely check ice conditions and provide current conditions by phone, website or social media pages.
ICE SAFETY• Carry a cell phone, and let people know where you are going and when you’ll return home.
• Wear proper clothing and equipment, including a life jacket or a float coat, to help you stay afloat and to help maintain body heat.
• Wear ice creepers attached to boots to prevent slipping on clear ice.
• Carry a spud bar to check the ice while walking to new areas.
• Carry a few spikes and a length of light rope in an easily accessible pocket to help pull yourself — or others — out of the ice.
• If you fall in, remain as calm as possible. While attempting to get out of the water, call for help. Anyone who attempts to rescue you should use a rope or something similar to avoid falling through themselves.
• Do not travel in unfamiliar areas or at night.
Have a plan in place noting where you will be and when you plan to return. Along with leaving a written note of your plans, keeping a charged cell phone is also recommended.
For more information visit the DNR Ice Safety webpage at dnr.wisconsin.gov/Education/OutdoorSkills/IceSafety.
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