The Town of Brome Lake has officially reopened the Douglas Beach and Tiffany Beach lake accesses.

After several extremely cold weeks, the town has deemed it safe to adventure out on the lake again. The sub-zero temperatures over a prolonged period of time allowed the ice to thicken and become more stable.

One month ago, the town closed all the lake accesses maintained by the municipality due to the high number of incidents. This season alone there have been more than 10 individuals who have fallen through the ice. All of the affected individuals have recovered.

The incidents can harm the individual who has fallen through the ice but also all the first responders involved in the rescue mission. During one incident an ATV broke through the ice. Luckily, it was safe for the first responders to pull the vehicle out of the ice. If the vehicle could not be removed, the town said there would have been large consequences to the environment. Closing the lake to human traffic was not only necessary for the safety of citizens but also for the safety of the water system.

“The only thing on the lake that the town is responsible for is the skating rink,” clarified Richard Burcombe, Mayor of Brome Lake.

All other areas of the lake are to be used at your own risk.

The town received a request to create a new path on the opposite side of the lake to Douglas Beach, but declined to do so.

“My answer was no because then we’re responsible if someone, something happens, and somebody falls through the ice, the town is responsible,” said Burcombe.

Here is Richard Burcombe: