In early February 2025, a father and his two daughters suffered severe burns while ice fishing on Harriman Reservoir in southern Vermont. The incident is believed to have been caused by a sudden release and ignition of methane gas trapped beneath the ice—a rare but potentially dangerous phenomenon that experts say can occur in frozen lakes and reservoirs.

How Methane Becomes Trapped Beneath Ice

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is produced naturally in lakes and reservoirs through the decomposition of organic material. When plant matter and other organic debris sink to the bottom of a body of water, bacteria break it down in a process called anaerobic decomposition—which occurs in the absence of oxygen. One of the primary byproducts of this process is methane gas.

During warmer months, methane typically escapes into the atmosphere as bubbles or dissolves in the water. However, when winter arrives and the surface of the water freezes, the methane has nowhere to go. Instead, it accumulates beneath the ice, forming pockets of highly flammable gas.

In some cases, methane can even form clathrates—crystalline structures where methane molecules become trapped within ice, stabilized by the extreme cold. These can store large amounts of gas, which may be released suddenly if the ice is disturbed or weakened.

What Triggers a Sudden Methane Release?

The Vermont incident is an example of what can happen when methane builds up under the ice and is suddenly released. Activities such as drilling a fishing hole, vehicle movement on the ice, or natural shifts in temperature can break the ice seal, allowing methane to escape in large bursts. If an ignition source is nearby—such as a heater, lighter, or even static electricity—the gas can ignite, creating a flash fire or explosion.

Similar methane releases have been observed in Arctic regions, where thawing permafrost has led to methane blowouts—violent explosions that create massive craters in the landscape. A well-documented case occurred in 2014 on Russia’s Yamal Peninsula, where warming temperatures destabilized underground methane reserves, causing an explosive release.

Warnings for Ice Anglers

Local authorities and scientists stress that while such incidents are rare, ice anglers should remain cautious when fishing in areas where methane accumulation is possible. Visible signs of trapped gas include bubbles frozen in the ice—which can appear as stacked white spheres—or soft spots in the ice where gas may be seeping out.

Experts recommend taking precautions such as:

• Checking for local advisories on ice conditions.
• Avoiding areas where methane bubbles are visible under the ice.
• Using hand augers instead of gas-powered tools to drill holes, reducing the chance of ignition.
• Being aware of any unusual hissing sounds or strong odors, which could indicate a methane release.