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7 July 2023
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Clifton fire boat pulled over falls with fire fighters on board during rescue, New Jersey, US
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Clifton fire fighters responded to a boat in distress Wednesday, 28 June 2023, on the Passaic River in Garfield, New Jersey and wound up needing to be rescued themselves. The incident unfolded at about 14h30 when fire fighters responded to a call of two boats in distress on the river near the Dundee Dam.
Around 14h30 police reported a person was in the water in the 800 Block of River Drive in the area of the Passaic River Falls and requested fire department and rescue teams to the scene. It was reported that the person in the water was closer to Clifton and Clifton Fire Department responded. Around 15h00 it was reported that the Garfield fire boat went over the falls, Elmwood Fire Department put their boat in the water, additional boats and a dive team were requested to respond.
The original victim was removed but two fire fighters that went over the falls in their marine unit needed to be rescued. Around 15h45 the New Jersey State Police was requested to send their helicopter for a rescue. By 16h00 two fire fighters were plucked from their partly submerged boat below the falls.
One fire fighter successfully jumped from the boat before it crashed over the falls, with the other two carried over. A New Jersey State Police helicopter in the area responded to the scene and lifted the two fire fighters from the boat.
The boats contained workers who were removing trees and debris from the river. The fire fighters assisted the work crews but the department’s own boat also got pulled over the falls with three fire fighters on board.
No one was seriously injured in the incident.
Sources: New Jersey State Police, Mid Jersey News
Around 14h30 police reported a person was in the water in the 800 Block of River Drive in the area of the Passaic River Falls and requested fire department and rescue teams to the scene. It was reported that the person in the water was closer to Clifton and Clifton Fire Department responded. Around 15h00 it was reported that the Garfield fire boat went over the falls, Elmwood Fire Department put their boat in the water, additional boats and a dive team were requested to respond.
The original victim was removed but two fire fighters that went over the falls in their marine unit needed to be rescued. Around 15h45 the New Jersey State Police was requested to send their helicopter for a rescue. By 16h00 two fire fighters were plucked from their partly submerged boat below the falls.
One fire fighter successfully jumped from the boat before it crashed over the falls, with the other two carried over. A New Jersey State Police helicopter in the area responded to the scene and lifted the two fire fighters from the boat.
The boats contained workers who were removing trees and debris from the river. The fire fighters assisted the work crews but the department’s own boat also got pulled over the falls with three fire fighters on board.
No one was seriously injured in the incident.
Sources: New Jersey State Police, Mid Jersey News
