4 Rescued From Broken-Down Pontoon Boat on Fox River

ALGONQUIN, IL - Fire crews in Algonquin came to the rescue of four people who became stuck on a broken-down pontoon boat on the Fox River Friday evening. The pontoon boat was headed for the low head dam on the Fox River at the Route 62 bridge when a bystander called emergency personnel for help at about 6:30 p.m., according to a news release from the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District. Fire crews responded to the scene within three minutes.

When they arrived, they found the pontoon boat under the Algonquin Road bridge secured by a rope over the bridge support and another passenger holding onto the buoy, according to the news release.

The boat was inoperable due to engine issues and was drifting under the bridge, toward the low head dam, due to high water levels and the swift current, according to fire officials.

Firefighters quickly dropped ropes to the boat and secured it in place until the fire district boat could respond and rescue the four people on board, removing them from their boat by towing them safely to a nearby pier. No one was injured in the incident.

Assistance was received from Huntley, Carpentersville, Wonder Lake, Barrington and Crystal Lake fire departments.

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