Anglers Rescued From Floating Ice

Eleven anglers were rescued from floating ice on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the end of Big Rock Place in the Town of Gardner.

The Brussel-Union-Gardner Fire Department was dispatched at 4:15 pm that day. BUG Fire Chief Curt Vandertie said when firefighters arrived, the group of anglers was spotted about a quarter of a mile from shore north of Big Rock Place, with an area of approximately 200 yards of open water between them and the shore.

Vandertie said command posts were established at both Big Rock Place and Wood Lane, and through coordinated communication and

operations, all 11 fishermen were safely rescued and transported to shore near Wood Lane, and the incident was cleared at 6:06 pm.

During the same time, Nasewaupee Fire Rescue and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) were managing another ice rescue emergency at the north end of Wood Lane near Riley’s Bay Road.

The BUG Fire Department requested assistance for airboats from Nasewaupee Fire Rescue, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the USCG. A USCG helicopter also searched the area looking for others who may have been stranded but found none.

Because there is a significant amount of open water, warmer temperatures, and ice along the shore is in poor condition, the BUG Fire Department is advising all people to stay off the ice.