News

Maine Firefighters Rescue Ducklings Trapped in Storm Drain

Judy Harrison

05/02/2016

May 01--BANGOR, Maine -- A feathered family was reunited Sunday morning thanks to quick action by Bangor firefighters and the city's public works department, according to information posted on the fire department's Facebook page.

The saga began when Anne Small of Bangor noticed a duck peering into a storm drain about 9 a.m. as she was driving down Stillwater Avenue.

"At first she thought it was the DOJ [Duck of Justice] that some night cop might have had out for a ride and let it fall off the roof of a cruiser while trying to take a sunrise selfie," the Facebook post said. "She quickly realized that this duck was the real deal when she turned to get a closer look at found it looking down a storm drain and mother duck only had one duckling with her."

Small called the police department that dispatched Ron Allen from public works and a crew from Engine 5, located on Hogan Road, on a rescue mission. When firefighters arrived at Stillwater Avenue and the access road by Best Buy, they learned there were six ducklings stranded in storm drain.

"We grabbed a couple of quick pics while the air monitor was sampling the pit before firefighter Doug Holland dove into action and rescued them in one single swoop," the post said.

"We occasionally watch ' North Woods Law' in the evenings, so we had a good idea what to expect once confronted with six swimming ducklings in a confined space," the post said. "Firefighter Holland then sprang out of the hole as firefighter Tim Witham and Lt. Andrew Emery went duck calling due to the mother not being in sight anymore."

"She was quickly heard replying and then FF Holland released them," the post concluded. "They reunited with their mother and we watched them swim off into the beautiful Penjajawoc Stream."

Bangor Police Sgt. Tim Cotton, spokesman for the department and "keeper" of the Duck of Justice, responded Sunday afternoon to the news of the rescue.

"While the Duck of Justice appreciates the benevolence of the Bangor firefighters, he still holds some mallard -- I mean, malice -- toward at least one Bangor firefighter," Cotton said on the DOJ's behalf. "Firefighter Jake Johnson was filmed in 2014 in reference to a documentary being made about the Duck of Justice in which he expressed a desire to eat the Duck of Justice.

"With that said, we believe the Duck of Justice will let bygones be bygones due to the kindhearted deed done today by our brothers in emergency services."