Traffic & Transit
First Responders Search For Overturned Canoe On The Merrimack River In Bow: Watch
Capital region firefighters were requested to the Route 3A and I-89 interchange for a possible canoe capsizing that was a false alarm.
BOW, NH — Capital region fire and rescue teams were sent to Route 3A in Bow for a report of a capsized canoe in the Merrimack River on Thursday.
Dispatchers with the Capital Area Mutual Aid Fire Compact received a call from a passing motorist around 1:15 p.m. about a possible overturned canoe in the river. Bow, Concord, Dunbarton, Epsom, Hooksett, and Pembroke fire and rescue teams were all requested to the scene.
Concord firefighters launched a boat from the Everett Arena while Bow and Hooksett hit the river from the south of the visual report. Dunbarton also launched a boat to assist. Later, Allenstown offered its boat, but dispatch suggested they hold. Pembroke was also asked to stand by.
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Around 1:30 p.m., the Bow fire commander reported Concord and other firefighters had spotted the canoe on the side of the riverbank. After investigating, firefighters on the river believed they found the canoe in question.
“It appears that this has been here for some time,” the commander said.
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Other firefighters were called off while the ones in the river brought the canoe to the command area and continued to search to determine there was no one in the water.
“There doesn’t appear to be anyone around it,” one firefighter said.
Another firefighter confirmed the canoe they found was the one reported by the driver and that it had been in the water for some time.
After firefighters rechecked the river several times and did not find any canoers in the water, Bow, Dunbarton, and Hooksett teams were cleared from the area just before 2 p.m. Allenstown and Pembroke were also returned to service while Concord firefighters continued checking the river.
NEWS 603 posted a video clip on Facebook.
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