Vernon Firefighters Rescue Ducklings From Storm Drain At Apartment Complex

A Vernon Fire Department crew rescued four baby ducklings from a storm drain at the Hockanum Mansions Apartment complex on Hockanum Boulevard Tuesday evening.

The incident was called in just before 6 p.m.

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Dispatchers were told that multiple ducklings trapped at the bottom of the drain. Several Vernon fire companies were already on the road after clearing a serious crash in town and responded to the apartment complex with Car 141, Assistant Chief Babcock, according to the department account.

Rescue 141 arrived first and found bystanders gathered around the storm drain. The department reported that several ducklings were swimming in a pool of water at the bottom of the drain while crews assessed the scene and began planning the rescue.

Car 141, ET-541 and SQ-441 then arrived and developed a rescue plan. The department said confined space rescue protocols were put in place, including monitoring atmospheric conditions in the storm drain before anyone entered and while the rescue was underway.

Lt. Randy Magnotta of Rescue 141 went down into the drain and rescued four baby ducklings, according to the department. The ducklings were described in the department account as “very vocal” when they came out of the drain.

Bystanders reported that the mother duck and other ducklings were swimming in an adjacent river. The rescued ducklings were then carried by hand to the river bank and reunited with their mother, according to the department.

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