Daring Flood Rescue In Livingston Makes Cops, Firefighters Proud

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Christopher Mullin has been a firefighter in Livingston for 35 years. And the fire chief says that the flooding that took place on Wednesday night was something he’s never seen before – not even during Hurricanes Floyd and Sandy.

It was a sentiment echoed by Livingston Police Chief Gary Marshuetz on Thursday, who said that more than 50 abandoned vehicles were removed from local roads during the fallout from Tropical Storm Ida.

Working through the night, local cops and firefighters rescued people stuck in disabled vehicles, which submerged under the rushing waters. It was a coordinated effort that made both agencies proud, Mullin and Marshuetz reported.

But one incident stands out above the others, they said.

According to Mullin, it took place when firefighters got a “mayday” from police officers who tried to rescue people on East Hobart Gap Road after their vehicle was swept into a wooded area by raging floodwaters.

Here’s what happened next, he told Patch:

“While attempting to rescue the trapped parties, Livingston police officers were swept into the wooded area near a brook by the sheer volume of water flowing, and held onto trees to be kept from being washed away into the woods. Upon arrival of Livingston Fire Department Assistant Chief Francione, his vehicle was then swept into the woods with him in the vehicle. Members of the Livingston Fire Department, along with additional officers from the Livingston Police Department, responded to this urgent call for help to save the two initial trapped civilians, the two trapped police officers and [Francione].”

Mullin said that he and other members of the fire department deployed a rowboat to the scene, allowing LPD officer Matt DiBiasie to wade through the thrashing water to reach the victims while controlling the boat by a rope system.

Meanwhile, members of the Livingston Department of Public Works arrived at the scene with a large front-end loader, which became an anchor point for the rope and boat rescue taking place, Mullin said.

While the rescue was in progress, members of the East Hanover Police and Fire Department Emergency Services Unit/Swift Water Rescue Team arrived on scene and aided in the safe removal of all victims, he added.

Members of the Livingston First Aid Squad were also at the scene, and treated the victims once they were rescued, Mullin said.

“In my 35 years as a firefighter in the township, I have never seen flooding to this extent,” said Mullin, who also serves as the town’s emergency management coordinator.

“In my view, this storm was worse than Hurricanes Floyd and Sandy in regards to flooding,” Mullin said.

Mullin said the rescue was a “total team effort” done under “extraordinary circumstances.”

“I applaud the professionalism and dedication of our township family, and I am proud to be a part of it,” he said.

'ROAD WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED'

Marshuetz also offered a statement about the rescue on social media. The police chief wrote:

“At approximately 9:30 p.m., the Livingston Police Department received a 9-1-1 transfer call from the Fairfield Police Department reporting a woman was trapped inside her vehicle on East Hobart Gap Road in flood waters. Fairfield police reported that the woman reported her vehicle had left the roadway and has entered the wooded area.

“Livingston officers Laracca, Cappuccino, and Arenas were dispatched to East Hobart Gap Road to check for the stranded motorist. Ptl. Cappuccino arrived on scene first and reported East Hobart Gap Road was completely flooded and he was unable to drive his patrol vehicle down the road. Ptl. Cappuccino and Ptl. Arenas attempted to reach the victim on foot by wading through the water to get to her car.

“Assistant Livingston Fire Chief Francione arrived on scene and moments later reported that his fire department vehicle was being swept away by the flood waters. Ptl. Laracca , Ptl. Cappuccino and Ptl. Arenas also reported that they were being swept away by the currents into the woods. All three officers, while being swept away, were able to cling to trees in an attempt to avoid being pushed further into the woods and out of sight of other officers. Fire Department personnel and other Livingston officers began to attempt to reach the officers with no luck. At that point the Livingston Dept. of Public Works responded with bucket loaders to assist in rescuing the trapped individuals.

“In addition, the East Hanover Police Department Swift Water Rescue Team responded and aided with rescuing the trapped female motorist as well as the three Livingston police officers and the assistant fire chief.

“After the officers had been exposed to the flood waters, torrential rain, and temps in the mid-60s for about two and half hours before being rescued, officers Laracca, and Cappuccino were transported to St Barnabas Medical Center and Ptl. Arenas was transported to Morristown Medical Center for treatment. All officers were released from the hospitals by Thursday morning and are doing OK.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Livingston Facebook page.