Fishermen rescued from bay ice

Posted at 4:40 p.m. on December 18, 2018

The Brillion News

GREEN BAY – Anyone considering going on to the ice on the Bay of Green Bay should probably reconsider after what happened on Tuesday (December 18).

At about 9:45 a.m., the Brown County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of ice fisherman stranded on the Bay out from Volk’s Landing, which is located on Edgewater Beach Road.

This is a small town park and boat landing in the Town of Scott, northeast of the City of Green Bay.

Originally the ice was reported to be shifting out from shore.  The initial 50 foot crack quickly became a half mile wide. The New Franken Fire Department, County Rescue Services, Wisconsin DNR and the U.S. Coast Guard were dispatched to assist.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office airboat launches from Volk’s Landing around 10:45 a.m., and all of the stranded people were brought safely to shore in two trips with the air boat.

A total of 14 people were rescued from the ice. They all refused medical treatment.  Bayside Ice recovery is assisting the fisherman with retrieving their fishing gear from the ice.  All rescue personnel cleared the scene at approximately 12:05 p.m.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to check the ice conditions prior to venturing out on the ice.  Due to the warm weather, ice conditions can deteriorate rapidly.

~ Source: Lt. Chris Knurr, B.C.D.D.