The Vestal Fire Department was dispatched to the area of the Susquehanna Riverbank near the west side of the Vestal Rail Trail on Thursday for two individuals and a dog that were stranded due to the rising water condition.
According to a press release from the Vestal, Endwell and Endicott Fire Departments, it was believed that the individuals were camping and due to the water rising, could not safely get back to shore.
Vestal Fire requested Endwell Fire and Endicott Fire for additional boats and manpower to respond. All three departments worked jointly to ensure proper equipment and personnel were utilized in the safest possible way while navigating the frigid and fast-moving conditions of the river.
The incident immediately posed some issues as the exact location of the victims was unknown and access to the area they were believed to be was limited. Units set up in the area of Freihofer’s on Castle Gardens Road in Vestal and Grippen Park in Endicott in an effort to get boats into the water and eyes on the victims as soon as possible.
Vestal Boat 32-1, Endwell Boat 31-1, and Endicott Boats 25-1 and 25-2 all launched with water rescue personnel with Boat 32-1 making initial contact approximately 40-45 minutes after the initial call was received.
Both victims and the dog were transported in Boat 25-2 to Grippen Park for medical evaluation and treatment. The Vestal Police Department assisted and provided additional manpower for Boat 32-1. All emergency boats returned safely to the boat launches and removed from the river without any injuries to emergency personnel.
Vestal Volunteer Emergency Squad and Union Volunteer Emergency Squad provided medical assistance for the incident.
The Broome County Sheriff’s Office was requested to assist by providing a drone and airboat but was able to standby without having to launch either unit. The Endicott Police Department assisted from the river’s north shore with identifying the victims’ location.
Broome County Office of Emergency Services Fire Coordinator and Communication Division assisted with dispatching, directing units based on the victims’ cell phone location and providing information and availability of resources and equipment.
The Campville Fire Department assisted by standing by as the next available agency downstream in the event they were needed.
“All agencies involved worked together in a coordinated fashion, under stressful conditions including cold weather, a fast moving, elevated water level river, limited access and visibility to the actual incident location and no direct contact with the victims in order to rescue and remove them without injury.
This incident is a perfect example of how mutual aid joint operations can be successfully conducted and how multiple agencies training and working together can produce the necessary response for the fast and safe termination of an incident,” the press release from the Vestal, Endwell and Endicott Fire Department said.
