Police always say ‘no ice is safe ice’ and on Thursday they proved it.

York Regional Police (YRP) held an ice rescue training day on Lake Simcoe and even the most experienced rescuers say it can be intense on the ice.

“We feel that intensity and that fear when we go out into the ice even with the proper training and equipment,” says Constable Matt Goold.

There are a number of vehicles on Lake Simcoe and plenty of ice huts as well. Police say they have had to pull two vehicles out of the broken ice in the past week alone.

Because of the number of water rescue calls YRP respond to every winter, officers outside the marine unit were also trained on Thursday.

YRP are also reminding people of how quickly the conditions can change on the ice.

“Unfortunately there’s no consistency in the ice thickness from one part of the lake to the next due to currents,” says Sergeant Tom Saito.