Firefighters Rescue Baby Raccoon During Weekend Storm

IRVINE, CA —What would you do if you saw a baby raccoon trapped with rising floodwaters at its back? Call the fire department, of course.

Orange County Fire Authority Firefighters rescued a baby raccoon over the weekend during the winter rainstorm, they reported.

Animal Control attempted to rescue the tiny trapped raccoon but was unable to reach the fellow. The slopes above the flood channel were just too steep.

The water was rising as rain pounded the area. Crowds of onlookers gathered to watch the firefighters get into their tactical rescue harnesses and traverse the almost 110-degree slope above a walking path in the city of Irvine.

"Firefighters used a special rope and special rescue skills to retrieve the animal," a spokesperson for the department shared.

The raccoon was safely nabbed with a net, and brought to a waiting carrier to be taken elsewhere.

The fire authority reported that the raccoon is healthy and injury-free.

Today #OCFA firefighters rescued a baby raccoon trapped in a flood control channel in @City_of_Irvine. Animal control asked for assistance and firefighters utilized special rope rescue skills to retrieve the animal. We are happy to report the raccoon is healthy and injury free! pic.twitter.com/6fx0xxQDI2
— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) November 8, 2020

Read Also:

OCFA Firefighters Visit 'Smokey' Rescued Barn Owl

Firefighters Rescue Dog Amid Apple Fire

OCFA Firefighters Rescue Orphan Kittens, Prove No Call Is Too Small

OCFA Free "Curious" Husky Bam-Bam

Oh, Deer! Dramatic 4-Legged Rescues Amid Floods