Approximately 200 people required rescue from Upper Red Lake yesterday.
According to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and other responders arrived to find a large chunk of ice that had broken off from the main shoreline.
About 30 yards of open water stood between the shoreline and the crowd of stranded anglers.
Several water rescue agencies and vehicles were also dispatched to the scene, and with the use of drones, first responders were able to find a suitable location for a temporary bridge for the evacuation.
The initial call from stranded anglers was around 11:30 Monday morning with all parties evacuated within three hours.
Beltrami County Emergency Management officials used a wireless emergency alert system to notify those needing rescue of the evacuation site coordinates.
Kelliher Fire and Rescue, Red Lake Nation Fire, the DNR, the state patrol, Blackduck Ambulance, Lake of the Woods Sheriff’s office and the local resorts assisted at the scene.
Early season ice is very unpredictable and extreme caution should be used when heading on the ice.
