By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- Truckee, Calif. — Firefighters used an aerial ladder as a bridge to rescue nine people cut off by a surging South Yuba River near Donner Summit; no injuries reported. FireRescue1
- Tactics: Crews extended the ladder horizontally over fast-moving water so occupants could walk out to the road. Multiple agencies assisted, including CAL FIRE, Olympic Valley Fire, and California State Parks. FireRescue1
- Setting: The red, peaked-roof house sits right on the river’s edge and has required rescues in past high-water events dating back decades. FireRescue1
- Safety message: Officials urged the public to stay away from swollen rivers and never enter floodwaters as more rain was forecast. FireRescue1
TRUCKEE, Calif. — Truckee firefighters evacuated nine people from a riverside home after heavy rains swelled the South Yuba River and cut off access to the property Sunday, prompting a creative technical rescue with an aerial ladder deployed as a horizontal bridge, officials said. No injuries were reported. FireRescue1
Battalion Chief Ryan Ochoa said crews extended the truck’s ladder across the fast current to reach occupants who were surrounded as water flowed around both sides of the structure. One by one, residents walked over the ladder to the roadway and then left in their own vehicles. The house, which sits on a granite slab at the river’s edge, has seen similar rescues in past high-water years, he noted. FireRescue1
The operation drew support from CAL FIRE, the Olympic Valley Fire Department, and California State Parks. With more rain expected, authorities warned people to keep clear of riverbanks and avoid attempting to drive or wade through floodwaters. FireRescue1