Beware of icicles!

Heavy snowfall and warming can cause icicles to form and snow to slide off building roofs. The sliding of accumulated snow mass from the roof is very dangerous! As a rule, such a mass is heterogeneous in its composition and contains both loose masses of melted snow and chunks of compacted ice, often of significant volume and mass.

Icicles on house roofs also pose a great danger because they fall from time to time. It is absolutely impossible to guess the exact moment when an icicle decides it has had enough of hanging. It is foolish to think that an ice icicle cannot cause great harm.

Remember: icicles most often form above drainpipes, so these areas of building facades can be particularly dangerous. They must be avoided. Exercise caution and, even if there is no fencing near the building, do not approach the walls of buildings closely if possible.

If you hear a suspicious noise from above while walking on the sidewalk, you should not stop, look up, or try to figure out what happened. It could be snow or a block of ice sliding off. You also should not run away from the building. You need to press yourself against the wall as quickly as possible; the roof overhang will serve as shelter.

One of the factors preventing the formation of icicles and the sliding of snow masses is the regular and timely removal of snow from roofs. In the absence of snow, icicles simply have nothing to form from, which means people below are safe.

In addition, pay attention to icy sidewalks. Usually, a thicker layer of ice forms under icicles.

Inspector of the Fire and Rescue Department of the Miory District Department for Emergency Situations O.M. Girzhda