Despite the warm temperatures forecast for this week, Saskatoon’s Deputy Fire Chief says residents don’t need to worry about ice thickness on the city’s storm ponds.

Rob Hogan explains that once the ice depth reaches 8 inches once, there is usually no concern over ice thickness until a run of high positive temperatures or the spring thaw.

In other words, let the winter fun continue.

“As long as it’s a pond that’s marked for that purpose of skating that we’ve tested, and they’re identified, then that’s no problem.”

He adds that there has never been an incident where someone has fallen through the ice on a storm pond, but people have had to be rescued after falling through the river. For this reason, he advises the public to be mindful of their surroundings, check the forecast, and follow posted signage.