“That’s not the normal thing we respond to,” said Derek Riley from the Lino Lakes Fire Department.
On Sunday May 17th crews assisted with a unique rescue at Heritage Avenue and William Lane involving several ducklings trapped in a storm drain.
Upon arrival, Engine 4, Engine 2 and Lieutenant 11 discovered that approximately eight ducklings had fallen into the catch basin. Firefighters removed the drain cover and successfully rescued six of them. A couple other ducks were found in nearby brush and were safely removed from danger along with the others.
Team effort
The firefighters were just glad they could respond and get this unusual job done.
“It’s been one of the more enjoyable things we get to do,” Riley said. “A lot of the stuff is the worst day of your life when we show up. This is the lighter side – some of the fun stuff we get to do.”
Riley and his cohorts worked in tandem to make sure the ducklings would be set free.
“It was a team effort,” Riley said. “It took one of us to hold the basket to keep them from jumping out. One person down there kind of getting dirty and getting them out, and someone that stopped them from running away and another person to kind of hand them up to me.”
Firefighters train extensively for any kind crisis involving people, but this is proof they come to the aid of birds an animals in need too.
