RCMP provide ice safety guidelines after vehicles fall through

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 11, 2026.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

Bassano RCMP has released a list of guidelines for ice fisherman after two separate reports of vehicles partially falling through the ice on Crawling Valley Reservoir in February.

In a news release highlighting significant events last month, Mounties say they received reports of vehicles falling through the ice on Feb. 14 and then Feb. 15 due to the unseasonal warm temperatures.

“Ice fishing on water bodies in the county requires extreme caution as conditions can vary wildly and hidden hazards exist despite some areas showing thick ice,” said Sgt. Joe Schmidt.

Mounties say while some areas of Lake Newell have been reported as having more than 20 inches of ice as of late February, other areas have experienced significant slush and dangerous spots.

Due to variable conditions police remind residents the minimum thickness for vehicles on ice is 12 inches, and speeds should be kept below 15 km/h to avoid creating “ice waves” that can break the ice.

Mounties also suggest avoiding night-time driving on the ice and maintaining space between parked vehicles to distribute the weight from a single area.

Bubbles coming from the ice are a sign of aeration and can significantly weaken ice, and police caution driving near them.

Both vehicles required a tow truck to be removed.

RCMP town hall

Next Monday the Bassano RCMP will host a town hall and residents are invited to attend and engage with local officers, provide feedback and learn about current trends and programs.

Members of the Bassano RCMP will be on hand for the public town hall event inside the Pioneer Damsiters Hall on Mar. 16 beginning at 6 p.m.

The meetings provide residents a chance to meet and engage with local officers and learn about policing updates, priorities and trends, and gather input from the public regarding future policing priorities.

“We look forward to connecting with residents and continuing to build strong partnerships within the community,” reads a social media post. “We are seeking public partnership and community input toward our local concerns as we are formulating our Bassano Detachment policing priorities and strategies for the upcoming year.”

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