LA County Fire Crews Hoist Trapped Dog From Aqueduct Channel
Urban Search and Rescue units lifted a German shepherd from moving water near a floodgate in Palmdale on Friday morning.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Los Angeles County Fire Department crews extracted a German shepherd from the California Aqueduct on Friday, ending a trapped-animal incident in Palmdale. The rescue required a mechanical hoist to lift the dog from the channel's current.
Urban Search and Rescue personnel arrived at the intersection of East Barrel Springs Road and Pearblossom Highway at approximately 11:10 a.m. Battalion Chief Mark McCurdy confirmed the timing and location of the call. Upon arrival, firefighters found the dog gripping a steel girder that serves as part of the facility's floodgate structure.
The team used a rig to raise the animal from the water. Once clear of the current, the dog was transferred to a Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control vehicle for transport and assessment.
McCurdy noted that the moving water presented the primary risk during the operation. The current posed a threat to the dog's stability and potential aggression, while also complicating footing for the rescuers.
Calls regarding trapped animals and humans in the aqueduct are frequent, according to McCurdy. The channel is a common route for hikers, stray dogs, and deer. He stated that the infrastructure regularly traps individuals and wildlife, requiring specialized rescue interventions.
