As the weather gets colder and things start to freeze, what are called "ice shelves" start to form on the shoreline of Lake Huron.
Although they may look like an extension of land, they're actually hollow and very dangerous.
"They're fascinating to see. We suggest you observe them from onshore and never venture out onto the ice shelves. The problem is, those mounds have holes that you can't see. And if you fall through one of those holes, you're going to be down in the water, but (it) won't be visible from shore that you've fallen in," said Sarnia Fire Rescue Public Education Officer Mike Otis. "To get out of that on your own is virtually impossible. You don't realize how fast you lose your muscle control, and it's really hard to get yourself out of a situation. Something like pulling yourself out of ice takes a lot of physical strength, and you don't have that when hypothermia sets in."
Ice shelves may look solid, but are actually hollow and unstable as the water underneath them is constantly moving.
As temperatures fluctuate between above and below freezing, the ice is constantly melting and freezing, which makes it even more dangerous.
"Just by the nature of ice freezing and thawing constantly, there's gonna be holes and cracks, and it's very dangerous to wander out onto. So we suggest never, ever going onto the ice shelves that form on the lake," Otis said.
No ice is safe ice, and residents are reminded to stay off any ice on bodies of water due to potential dangers.
