A ‘few tense moments’
Firefighters rescue woman, pets trapped by flood waters
Hants County firefighters battled rapidly rising flood waters as they helped rescue a woman and her pets from inside a Bishopville home
Feb. 18.
At 2:14 p.m., Hantsport firefighters were called to assist a person who couldn’t leave their house, located on the Bishopville Road, for fear of extensive flooding outside.
Paul Maynard, a deputy chief with the Hantsport Fire Department, said a woman and her pets — a cat and a dog — were trapped inside the home as the Halfway River surged over land.
“Myself, and one of our captains, Capt. Jason States, arrived on scene and found that the river was probably 10 times wider and deeper than it normally is in that area,” said Maynard.
“It’s unusual for sure. Most of the locals that we talked to out there had never seen the river that high in all the years they’ve lived out there."
Maynard estimated the water surrounding the house was between three to five feet (one to 1.5 metres) deep.
“We wanted to immediately check on her health and safety, give her an assessment as well as (conduct) an assessment of the property because there was still power going to the house,” said Maynard.
Three Hantsport firefighters donned water rescue suits, waded through the flood waters, and gained access to the residence. They checked on the woman and shut off the power inside the home.
“It was definitely a few tense moments,” Maynard said reflecting on when they first arrived.
Water was just starting to enter the structure.
“Lots of hazards on scene,” Maynard said of the challenges they faced, noting with rising flood waters, it can be difficult to tell where the current is and what the firefighters could encounter while not being able to see where they are walking. “We took our time once our team got in there and assessed that it was not an immediate, lifethreatening emergency."
Windsor Fire was paged to assist with the rescue, bringing two different boats with them in case they were required.
“After consulting with the individual inside the residence, she felt more comfortable walking out on her own in one of our water rescue suits,” said Maynard. “We agreed to let her don one of our water rescue suits and with assistance of Windsor and Hantsport firefighters, we were able to walk her back to dry ground safely.”
From there, she was checked over by paramedics and reunited with her pets. No injuries were reported, Maynard said. The woman left with family members.
“It was definitely a good outcome. Unfortunately, there is going to be some damage to her home, but she’s safe and her animals are safe and that’s the No. 1 goal,” said Maynard.
Maynard said they’ve responded to several flooded basements this winter due to the weather conditions fluctuating so quickly, but this flood call was unexpected.
“It shows the mutual aid and auto aid in the area truly works. Windsor has water
rescue equipment. We’re able to get it to the scene very quickly,” he said.
About 16 firefighters attended the scene.
Nova Scotia was under a weather warning for Feb. 18, with residents being advised of the potential for high winds and rain changing to freezing rain. Temperatures, which surpassed 10 C by midafternoon, were due to drop significantly throughout the day.
Allister Aalders, a weather specialist with the SaltWire Network, noted in his Feb. 18 weather report that “rapid snowmelt, localized flooding, power outages and a flash freeze behind the system are all concerns.”