MURRIETA, CA — A flock of Murrieta Fire and Rescue firefighters assisted a mother duck whose ducklings were trapped inside a storm drain grate over the weekend.
You can watch the full video below, but here's how they were brought in to help, using a "snake bucket" and the kind energy that only a firefighter can bring to a nervous mom.
Shortly after 5:45 p.m., Murrieta firefighters from Engine 3 arrived at the area of Via Del Sol and Via La Colina, where a witness spotted the mother duck looking agitated near the drain.
"A caller reported seeing a mother duck in distress near a storm drain. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that eight baby ducks had fallen into a drain approximately three feet deep," Dawn Morrison, the department spokesperson, said.
The team removed the heavy grate, and Captain Brandon Roach climbed down into the drain to safely gather the ducklings into a bucket typically used for retrieving snakes.
"Captain Roach then handed the bucket up to Engineer Justin Mack, who reunited the eight ducklings with their mother," Morrison said.
The grate was replaced, and the ducklings were seen safely following their mom.
On Wednesday, in a perfect "full circle" moment, Murrieta Fire Inspector Keli Wilcher joined local families for a special storytime at the Murrieta Public Library. And what did she read?
"Firefighter Duckies!" by children's book author Frank Dormer, of course.
"We couldn’t have planned it any better if we tried," said Morrison of the reading at the public library. "We love any chance to get out and see our community, especially when it involves inspiring the next generation of 'duckling rescuers."
(Be advised, there are jubilant exclaimations in the video below.)
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