8 Rescued From Lake Michigan By Evanston FD After Boats Capsize

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston Fire Department water rescue crews pulled eight people from Lake Michigan Thursday after several boats capsized amid a sudden change in weather conditions, fire officials said.

Crews were dispatched around 5 p.m. to the area of Clark Street Beach and the Dempster Street Boat Launch, where they found five overturned boats.

Firefighters launched a full water rescue response, complete with multiple jet ski units and a fire department boat, officials said.

All of the boaters were pulled from the water and accounted for, and none of them needed to be taken to hospital.

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Fire officials said the department trains regularly for lakefront rescues, most recently hosting a Sept. 15 joint training exercise with other fire departments to focus on finding and rescuing stranded swimmers and boaters at dusk or nighttime.

In Thursday's water rescue, Evanston fire crews were assisted by a Chicago Fire Department helicopter unit and ambulances from several neighboring departments, which were called in case anyone needed to be hospitalized.