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water_rescue_a_lg.jpg * 619 x 627 * (44KB) * The fire station was staffed all night because of all the rain (pump outs and road hazards). It was around 9PM when members of the Coeymans Hollow Fire Corp. heard faint yelling. A crew loaded into 6-20 and headed across the street to the town highway garage where the cries for help got louder.\ The creek behind the highway garage was swollen over its banks. The creek, usually 15 feet wide, was over 100 feet wide with extremely strong currents and deep water where the creek usually runs. Firefighters donned cold water rescue suites and life vests and headed into the creek, they traveled through the trees and brush yelling back to the parties trying to find them. A second rescue crew was instructed to set ropes up down steam off Greenbush Ave.\ The closer the first rescue crew got to the cries, the stronger the current became. The rescue crew could not believe there eyes as they saw three people on top of a pickup truck in the middle of the creek, the water was up to the windshield causing the water to lap over the roof then over the back of the truck. The rescuers were about 20 feet away from the truck in water up to there waists, the current and lack of trees kept them from advancing further. The cold water (50 degrees) had taken its toll on the three victims, there shivering bodies and frightened looks worried the rescue crew.\ As the rescuers were tying off to trees they noticed the truck was starting to rock and shift. Knowing, that at any moment the truck and victims could be swept away, the rescue crew worked swiftly. Rescuers only had two life vests, they tied them to a rope and tossed them to the victims. The first throw was perfect, the victims caught the vests. The raging creek was so loud, it was hard to communicate to the people on the pickup truck. The rescue crew had two of the victims put the life vests on and the third person was instructed to tie the rope tightly around himself and the other two. Just as the rope was tied around the three the truck started to shifted again, rescuers could wait no longer, jump now they screamed! As the three jumped into the bitter cold water, the rescue crew pulled on the rope. In less then five seconds the victims were at their rescuers but only two people were visible. The third person popped his head up, he was under the other two, rescuers took a breath! The three guys, early twenties, were brought to the fire station where they were warmed up while EMS checked them out.\ The pictures above were taken the next day when the water was subsiding.
water_rescue_b_lg.jpg * 626 x 627 * (50KB) * The fire station was staffed all night because of all the rain (pump outs and road hazards). It was around 9PM when members of the Coeymans Hollow Fire Corp. heard faint yelling. A crew loaded into 6-20 and headed across the street to the town highway garage where the cries for help got louder.\ The creek behind the highway garage was swollen over its banks. The creek, usually 15 feet wide, was over 100 feet wide with extremely strong currents and deep water where the creek usually runs. Firefighters donned cold water rescue suites and life vests and headed into the creek, they traveled through the trees and brush yelling back to the parties trying to find them. A second rescue crew was instructed to set ropes up down steam off Greenbush Ave.\ The closer the first rescue crew got to the cries, the stronger the current became. The rescue crew could not believe there eyes as they saw three people on top of a pickup truck in the middle of the creek, the water was up to the windshield causing the water to lap over the roof then over the back of the truck. The rescuers were about 20 feet away from the truck in water up to there waists, the current and lack of trees kept them from advancing further. The cold water (50 degrees) had taken its toll on the three victims, there shivering bodies and frightened looks worried the rescue crew.\ As the rescuers were tying off to trees they noticed the truck was starting to rock and shift. Knowing, that at any moment the truck and victims could be swept away, the rescue crew worked swiftly. Rescuers only had two life vests, they tied them to a rope and tossed them to the victims. The first throw was perfect, the victims caught the vests. The raging creek was so loud, it was hard to communicate to the people on the pickup truck. The rescue crew had two of the victims put the life vests on and the third person was instructed to tie the rope tightly around himself and the other two. Just as the rope was tied around the three the truck started to shifted again, rescuers could wait no longer, jump now they screamed! As the three jumped into the bitter cold water, the rescue crew pulled on the rope. In less then five seconds the victims were at their rescuers but only two people were visible. The third person popped his head up, he was under the other two, rescuers took a breath! The three guys, early twenties, were brought to the fire station where they were warmed up while EMS checked them out.\ The pictures above were taken the next day when the water was subsiding.
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Water Rescue
Album last updated on 2008.01.31
Coeymans Hollow Fire - 2007