Beltrami County first responders rescue 50+ from floating ice sheet

(Beltrami County, MN) -- First responders are blaming strong winds for causing ice to break away from the shore of a lake in northern Minnesota.  

Dozens of fishermen were stranded on the ice on Upper Red Lake in Beltrami County yesterday evening. A spokesperson for the county says fishermen often go out onto the ice on the lake before it is fully frozen, leading to multiple rescues each winter. Between 40 and 50 people were reportedly stranded on the ice, and the county's spokesperson said first responders were working last night to get them safely to shore.

A similar incident occurred last year in November, when over 200 people were left stranded on a section of free-floating ice.