Monday December, 26 2022 @ 08:41

Nature: Service Call-Fire – Animal Rescue

Location: 33482 Islander Dr., The Peninsula, DE 19966

On Monday morning, December 26^th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was requested for a service call to mitigate an incident in the Peninsula development off Bay Farm Road.  It was reported to be a small deer in the center of the pond possibly stuck in the ice.  

Indian River did respond in a non-emergency manner for evaluation of the incident. 

After evaluation, Indian River did determine that the deer was stuck and possibly fatigued and cold based upon the severe weather and being wet.  The responders developed a plan for remediation and requested other resources from Indian River and well as the Mid Sussex Rescue Squad for responder precautionary measures.

Indian River requested a utility vehicle and one of the small inflatable boats for potential usage.

Indian River utilized this incident as a training episode to deploy the inflatable boat with tethering to secure a successful retrieval of the deer.  A two-man crew deployed the inflatable boat and made efforts to reach the deer while the responders on shore monitored and evaluated their progress.  The crew was able to retrieve the docile deer and return to the shoreline.  Efforts to warm the deer were initiated via the EMS personnel and ultimately the deer was wrapped in couple of blankets and placed in the sunlight in hopes of returning to its normal environment.

All units were authorized to return to their respective quarters.