HUNTINGTON – On Tuesday, the Huntington Police, Fire, and Emergency Management joined Chesterfield Fire and Police, State Police, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) and Westfield Fire in the rescue of a man who went into the Westfield River at the Indian Hollow camp ground in Chesterfield after his dog.
Huntington Fire Chief Gary Dahill said they got a call that the man went into the river at around 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Huntington set up a command post at the Knightville Dam picnic basin, about two miles downstream from the campground, and Dahill went up the west bank of the river from there in a utility terrain vehicle.
Deputy Chief Charles Dazelle said they set up the command post with a watch site and rescue ropes at the Knightville basin; but the man had already floated past them and met the ACE at the dam, more than two miles downstream from where he started.
Dazelle said they also requested drones from Springfield because of the miles of tall weeds and brush on the river bank, but cancelled them en route. He said the town’s Emergency Management Director is currently applying for a grant for its own rescue drone for these scenarios.
Meanwhile, Dahill picked up four family members in the UTV, two on each side of the river who were searching for the man, and returned them to the campground.
The dog got out shortly after he got in at the campground and made his own way back.
“It was a good outcome,” Chief Dahill said, adding, “You know what you’ll do for your dogs.”
“Luckily, he was found. It was such a big stretch,” Deputy Chief Dazelle said, adding, “He must have been moving. People shouldn’t be in the river right now. It doesn’t take much. If you get pinned upside down, you’re not going to survive. It’s all the unknowns.”
Huntington Emergency Management also posted the following advice on its page: As a reminder, please use caution around rivers and streams, especially after large amounts of rain. Life jackets are always recommended as well.
