Staying safe on the ice

EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - The mild weather last year kept many winter sports fans at home, but 2013 is already a different story.

“Hockey blade in the front and a snow tire in the back, and I go around the lake,” said Frank Munlz of East Longmeadow.

East Longmeadow's Heritage Park Pond froze after temperatures dipped into the teens after New Year's Day.

“Not having any ice last year was a killer. It made for a long winter, so it's nice to have it back,” said Paul Fouche of Westfield.

But any kind of a frozen natural body of water comes with safety warnings.

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife says you should consider any kind of ice potentially dangerous. Only when it’s four inches or thicker, it is safe for ice fishing and other activities on foot.

“I just took a walk out to see if there were any cracks anywhere, and I can just tell that it was at least 3 or 4 inches thick, and I knew that was safe for skating. I grew up playing pond hockey and using the pond, so I'm used to it,” said Bruce Goldman of East Longmeadow.

Local Departments of Public Works say people should still be careful any time they go out on ice, especially since temperatures are expected to climb back up into the 40s next week.

Sad news for winter fans, but welcome news for those looking forward to summer months already.

“I'm just not a winter person. I'm a summer guy. I can live with the snow. I guess it was nice for the holiday, but that's it. I'm done with it. It can melt now,” said Jay McLaughlin of Springfield.