Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke
Date of Incident: 3/2/2009
Incident Type: Special Rescue
Incident Location: Owens Beach
Narrative: On Monday March 2, 2009 at 5:20 pm a Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) engine company (E-14), medic unit (M-1) and fire boat (Commencement) responded to a report of an overturned canoe with occupants in the water at Owens Beach.
Crews responded to the beach and pursued the drifting boaters on foot, hoping to assist the victims with a rope rescue. Fire Boat Commencement responded from quarters on the Thea Foss waterway and Medic 1 staged at the Point Defiance boat launch.
With the fire boat still many minutes behind and the victims drifting beyond the reach of rope rescue along Point Defiance, Lt. Pat Tucci's (E-14) innovative solution for this rescue was to call a friend who resides at Salmon Beach. Luckily the friend was home and he was able to locate the drifting boys as they passed from Lt. Tucci's sight.
Using cell phones and with the assistance of private boats from Salmon Beach (also summoned by Lt. Tucci) the fire boat was able to locate the boys and successfully complete the rescue.
Tacoma Fire Department is grateful to all who assisted in this unique rescue situation.
Probable Cause: N/A
Damage Extent: N/A
Dollar Loss: N/A
Firefighter Response:11
Mutual Aid: N/A
For more information on this release, please call 253.255.4874 and or/check out the TFDblog @ http://www.tacomafiredepartment.blogspot.com/
