Firefighters used radar and an infrared-equipped drone to locate the powerless 24-foot vessel before crews stopped it from sinking in Long Island Sound
STAMFORD, CT – A person and a dog were stranded aboard a powerless 24-foot boat taking on water off Stamford early Wednesday, triggering an overnight rescue that used radar and an infrared drone to find the vessel before firefighters stopped it from sinking.
The Stamford Emergency Communications Center received a call from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound at approximately 1:28 a.m. reporting the vessel in distress off Westcott Cove.
Stamford Fire Department units were dispatched for a water rescue, including members of the department’s Dive Team and the crew of Fireboat 236. Stamford EMS also responded with an ambulance and supervisor.
Finding the boat in the darkness became a coordinated effort involving technology on the water and in the air.
Fireboat 236 established radar contact with a target believed to be the vessel while Stamford’s emergency communications center deployed a drone equipped with infrared imaging.
The drone located the boat and confirmed coordinates matching the target detected by the fireboat’s radar, according to the Stamford Fire Department.
When Fireboat 236 reached the vessel, firefighters discovered that its engine compartment was submerged.
The flooding had caused the boat to lose all power.
One person and a dog were aboard the vessel. Neither was injured, according to the department.
The boat was still taking on water and faced the risk of sinking, prompting firefighters to secure it and immediately begin pumping water from the vessel.
Crews brought the flooding under control and prevented the 24-foot boat from becoming completely submerged.
After stabilizing the vessel, Fireboat 236 towed it to the West Beach boat ramp.
The owner then removed the boat from the water using a trailer.
The incident ended without reported injuries to the person or dog aboard.
Key Points
- A 24-foot boat carrying one person and a dog began taking on water off Westcott Cove at approximately 1:28 a.m. Wednesday.
- Stamford responders used Fireboat 236’s radar and an infrared-equipped drone to locate the powerless vessel.
- Firefighters pumped water from the boat, prevented it from sinking and towed it to the West Beach boat ramp with no injuries reported.