While it may not be what their training is typically used for, Nanaimo firefighters came up with a creative solution to rescue a dog that was stuck in a drainage system.
David Dales, assistant fire chief with Nanaimo Fire Rescue, says on Friday crews were called to assist with a dog that had entered the drainage system and was in distress.
“We immediately sent one rescue and one engine company to the scene,” Dales said in an interview with CHEK News. “The company officer was able to make the decision that this was a rescue that we could do and help, and we executed the rescue really quickly.”
Dales says they were able to rescue Dobby the dog within 30 minutes, but crews had to get creative in how to conduct the rescue.
“What they actually did is they inserted the hose without water, they taped a bunch of blankets to the end of the nozzle and then they pushed the fire hose in, they were actually able to push it past the dog,” Dales said.
“And then when they inflated it, it actually kind of gave the dog something to kind of hang on to… And then what they did is they retracted the hose back to a place where the dog was closer and then one of the firefighters was able to reach into the manhole and grab the dog.”
Dales says while firefighters do receive rope rescue training, this is not an application of that training the firefighters had used before.
“This was very unique. This was an opportunity for Nanaimo Fire Rescue firefighters to look at each other they knew there was a sense of urgency, and a plan was created and executed flawlessly,” Dales said. “This was something that was done on the fly, but never been done before. And was just dog lovers who happen to be on the fire engine being very, very creative. And it worked out perfectly.”
Nanaimo Public Works also assisted with the rescue, and Dales says the staff’s knowledge of the sewage system helped the firefighters come up with a plan and find where Dobby had gotten stuck.
Today our @IAFF905 Firefighters responded to a “yelp for help” from a 12 year old pup named Dobby. Dobby was trapped inside a drainage system with a potential of drowning. Our Firefighters supported by @cityofnanaimo public works staff, quickly located the pup and rescued him. pic.twitter.com/BrL5pD5TDq
— Nanaimo Fire Rescue (@NanaimoFire) July 1, 2022
Laura Brougham
