Units from Folsom Fire Department and California were dispatched to a reported water rescue Thursday afternoon on the American River Parkway to assist several people that were stranded just before 6:00 p.m. Thursday.
According to the Folsom Fire Department at the scene, the division’s boat rescue team was deployed to the waters of Lake Natoma near the area of 2420 American River Parkway after several individuals became stranded on a small island in the lake after their inflatable became deflated, leaving the group without a floatation device.
Folsom Fire Department’s Boat 65 was launched at the boat ramp near Sacramento State Aquatic Center while Folsom’s Boat 35 responded and was on standby at the Willow Creek launch ramp during the operation in case additional assistance was needed in bringing the stranded swimmers to safety.
California State Parks was the first boat to reach the “castaways,” and bring them to safety. There were no injuries reported in the rescue effort and officials urge swimmers the importance of life jackets when on the waters as an unexpected incident such as this one could have far different results.
