A pair of side-by-side vehicles broke through the ice at the Buffalo Bill Reservoir on Sunday.

No one was hurt in the incident, the Park County Sheriff’s Office said, and the owners of the two vehicles were able to retrieve them without any assistance.

However, the sheriff’s office highlighted the incident as a reminder to take precautions when recreating on ice.

Sheriff Scott Steward recommended that people not travel onto the ice at this time, due to the warm weather and rapidly deteriorating conditions. 

“Proper ice recreation safety can mean the difference between life and death,” the office said in a Facebook post.

The sheriff’s office noted that the thickness of the ice “is very inconsistent this time of year.”

Stress fractures, air pockets, overly fatigued ice and other factors can cause otherwise strong ice to give way, said the post. “Moreover, ice is always and continually changing.”

“As the weather continues to warm up the ice will become more dangerous. Certain areas may seem safe but may be very close to areas that are less stable,” the post read.

The side-by-sides that went through the ice on Sunday had been on the North Fork side of the reservoir, near the Cedar Mountain Point.

The sheriff’s office advises to always wear a personal flotation device when out on the ice, as a person can lose muscle control in cold waters and drown in two to 15 minutes. Further, Steward said to carry a pair of “ice awls” or “ice picks,” preferably on a loop hung around the person’s neck.

“These devices held in each hand will enable the victim to self-rescue by gripping the ice, allowing the victim to pull themselves up and out of the water,” Steward said.

For additional information on when to know if the ice is safe and additional safety preparedness measures, visit www.takemefishing.org/ice-fishing/ice-fishing-basics/ice-fishing-safety/.