(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Fire Department posted on social media late Thursday, that at around 6:45-p.m. Wednesday, an ice fisherman fell through the ice at 12 Mile Lake, about 4-miles east of Creston. The post said “Fortunately, he was able to self rescue and was ultimately fine after being treated by medics and warmed up.”

Creston Fire officials warned “That is not always the case, as with what happened in Madison County last week. Be aware,” they said, that “there are large areas of open water on 12 Mile, 3 Mile, Green Valley, and Summit Lakes. Some created by the geese and others created by underwater currents, springs, and other natural phenomenon.”

Creston Fire warned also, that “There is always an inherent danger in ice fishing as no ice is 100% safe, but right now on the lakes there are highly variable depths of ice in some locations making it even more dangerous. If you are planning on ice fishing make sure you check the ice as you move about the ice. Use personal flotation devices, there are a wide variety for ice fishing. Have a pair of ice awls at hand to use if you happen to fall in. Let someone know where you will be and what time they can expect you to return. If you plan to fish at night, scout the area you want to fish in the daylight so you can observe potential hazards.”