Temperatures are dropping in Saskatchewan and water is starting to freeze over.

With ice starting to cover bodies of water, safety is important to maintain.

Denis Pilon, Chief of the Swift Current Fire Department, explains to be patient and cautious while waiting for the ice to be thick enough to walk on.

"The concern we have is that the ice is not very thick.

The water in the creek in particular is moving fairly rapidly still, as there's quite an out-flow from the Duncairn Dam.

Even when it does look like it might be safe, the ice probably is not. So we're just advising people to stay off the creek and the ice, and be cautious when around the ice.

Chief Pilon explains the best way to tell if the ice is thick enough to walk on.

"The only way that you really know is to drill a pilot hole and know that the area you're standing on is good - you almost have to start at the edge and work your way out.

As winter progresses and it gets really cold, typically if we're in the -20 to -30 degree range, after a couple of weeks, its pretty thick. But the only way to know is to drill and test the ice.

If the ice was 18 inches, that would be pretty safe for just about any activity," the Swift Current Fire Department Chief said.