Aqueduct Rescue: Firefighters Hoist Dog From Floodgate
A German shepherd was pulled from moving water in Palmdale on Friday after becoming trapped on a steel structure.
By Andrew Bennett ·
Los Angeles County Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue crews extracted a German shepherd from the California Aqueduct in Palmdale on Friday morning. The animal had been stranded on a steel girder associated with a local floodgate. Firefighters performed a hoist operation to lift the dog from the moving water before transferring it to a Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control truck.
Battalion Chief Mark McCurdy stated that emergency units arrived at the intersection of East Barrel Springs Road and Pearblossom Highway at approximately 11:10 a.m. Video footage from the scene captured the rescue team securing the dog. McCurdy noted that the primary hazard during the extraction was the current. He explained that moving water poses risks to both the trapped animal and the rescuers. The dog could have become distressed or attempted to bite during the process, while the crew faced the danger of the flowing water.
McCurdy indicated that such incidents are frequent in this area. He said calls regarding trapped domestic animals, wildlife, and humans are relatively common. The aqueduct corridor attracts people walking along its trails. These individuals, along with dogs and deer, occasionally find themselves trapped in the channel.
The dog was removed from the water and placed in transport immediately following the hoist. No further details were provided regarding the condition of the animal upon arrival at the care facility.
