Latest news with #GloucesterFireDepartment
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Off-Duty Firefighters Rescue 3 After Car Plunges '15-20 Feet' Upside-Down into Water, Saving Them from 'Mortal Danger'
Gloucester, Mass., authorities said a car containing three people "plunged about 15-20 feet into the water" at a park on May 18 Two off-duty firefighters and some bystanders helped rescue the victims, who were later hospitalized "Three people could have easily been lost in Gloucester this morning if not for the bold and decisive actions of these two firefighters and a group of very brave bystanders," said a fire officialA group of off-duty firefighters and Good Samaritans are heroes after they helped rescue three people from a car that plunged into the water of a Gloucester, Mass., park. In a news release from the Gloucester Fire Department, officials said it responded to the incident that occurred on the morning of Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter's Park. The department said Deputy Chief Andrew McRobb and Lt. William Doucette, both of whom were off-duty at the time, witnessed the crash and alerted authorities around 10:49 a.m., local time. Doucette entered the water and helped crew members of a local lobster boat who used a hammer to break one of the vehicle's windows so the occupants could get out, the fire department said. 'They worked together quickly with a small group of brave bystanders to help all three of the car's occupants out of the vehicle, which had landed on its roof,' the news release stated. The submerged vehicle's occupants were freed but still in the water by the time emergency responders arrived at the scene, the department added. Doucette, McRobb and some bystanders administered aid to the victims and kept their heads safely above water. The victims, who were conscious and alert following the rescue, were later taken to a hospital with various injuries, the department said, which added that Doucette was also transported for medical treatment with minor injuries. 'Lt. Doucette jumped into the water with little regard for his own safety,' Gloucester Fire Deputy Chief Tom LoGrande said, per the news release. 'I'm happy to report that Lt. Doucette is okay after this ordeal. Three people could have easily been lost in Gloucester this morning if not for the bold and decisive actions of these two firefighters and a group of very brave bystanders.' LoGrande said it was fortunate that the incident happened during a low tide and not a high tide. Gloucester Fire added that, based on a preliminary investigation, the vehicle 'was driven around granite barriers and over the seawall, where it plunged about 15-20 feet into the water.' The vehicle was towed from the water, the department said. Police are investigating the incident. Gloucester Fire Chief Eric Smith expressed gratitude to those involved in the rescue. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'If not for all of their selfless efforts, this could have been a tragic day in Gloucester,' Smith said in the news release. 'Instead, this is an inspirational story of our community banding together to help three people in mortal danger. All of these people working together in an emergency makes me proud to be a Gloucester resident.' Read the original article on People
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Off-duty firefighter and fisherman rescue 3 women after car plunges into water in Massachusetts
Three women were saved by quick-acting firefighters, fishermen and bystanders when their car plunged 15 to 20 feet into Harbor Cove in Gloucester, Massachusetts Sunday morning. Off-duty firefighter Lt. William "Buddy" Doucette wasted no time jumping into the water just before 11 a.m. when he heard the screech and saw a car flying into the air off the pier landing on the roof and trapping the occupants. Off-duty firefighter jumped into water "There wasn't any time to be scared because you had to react to get them out of the water. If they didn't get out of the water they would have died," said Doucette. "It's fight or flight, you either run towards the incident or you run away. I'm always the person that runs towards it." Lobsterman Captain Mark Lodge was only feet away himself, tied up right next to Doucette who was working on his own boat and grabbed a hammer. "I took the sledgehammer, reached down underneath the water and tapped the window and it broke instantly, I was able to open the door," said Doucette. The women were upside down partially submerged, strapped in by their seatbelts. It was an intense effort to keep the women's heads above water as rescuers tried to free them, using lobstermen's knives to cut the belts. "That saved those people's lives, I'm convinced of that, that quick action," said Gloucester Deputy Fire Chief Tom LoGrande. "It doesn't take long to drown." 3 women taken to hospital It's unclear the circumstances of why the women broke through a metal sign and around concrete barrier, but by the time they hit the water firefighters said they had already suffered injuries just from the crash. Fortunately, the water was at low tide which helped the rescuers get their footing. "The first lady we got out of the vehicle, her head was cut and bleeding pretty good. The second lady out, she was pretty pale in color, breathing, thank God," said Lodge. It was a rescue where every second counted, a fact not lost on Doucette. "I can honestly say that being there saved three people," said Doucette. The women were transported to hospitals with varying injuries while the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Off-duty firefighters and others rescue 3 after car crashes into water at Mass. park
Off-duty firefighters and other bystanders rescued three people Sunday morning after a car crashed into the water at a Gloucester park. Two off-duty firefighters on a nearby boat saw the car crash into the water at St. Peter's Park and called 911 shortly before 10:50 a.m., the Gloucester Fire Department said in a press release. The car landed on its roof, trapping the three people inside it inside the car. One firefighter immediately jumped into the Gloucester Harbor Cove to help, and several local fishermen and other bystanders soon joined in the rescue effort, the fire department said. Several crewmembers from Tight Lines — a Gloucester-based lobster boat — broke one of the car windows with a hammer to help free those inside. By the time Gloucester firefighters arrived at the scene, all three people who were in the car had been freed from it, but were still in the water, the fire department said. Their rescuers had kept their heads above the water and rendered medical aid. 'Fortunately it was low tide and not high tide,' Deputy Fire Chief Tom LoGrande said in the release. The three people were all conscious and alert when they were taken to local hospitals with varying injuries, the fire department said. One of the off-duty firefighters was also taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The preliminary investigation indicates that the car was driven around granite barriers and over the seawall before plunging 15 to 20 feet into the water, the fire department said. A local tow company removed it from the water. 'We'd like to thank everyone who helped get these three people get out of the vehicle,' Gloucester Fire Chief Eric Smith said in the release. 'If not for all of their selfless efforts, this could have been a tragic day in Gloucester. Instead, this is an inspirational story of our community banding together to help three people in mortal danger. All of these people working together in an emergency makes me proud to be a Gloucester resident.' Gloucester police are still investigating the crash. Springfield approves new 5,000-gallon tank to allow Peter Pan Bus to fuel vehicles Springfield men indicted on drug trafficking charges in Vermont Police rescue 7-year-old Mass. boy lost in swamp Former President Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer Cape Cod high school senior killed in car crash Read the original article on MassLive.
Business Mayor
18-05-2025
- Business Mayor
Two off-duty Massachusetts firefighters, bystanders, rescue three after car plunges into water, flips over
GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department responded Sunday when a car containing three people plunged into the water at St. Peter's Park. Two off-duty firefighters on a boat nearby witnessed the crash, and one immediately jumped into the Gloucester Harbor Cove water to help. Their rescue efforts were joined by several local fishermen and other bystanders at the scene. The pair of off-duty Gloucester firefighters, Deputy Chief Andrew McRobb and Lt. William Doucette, called the incident into dispatch at 10:49 a.m., Sunday, May 18. Lt. Doucette entered the water to help several crewmembers from Tight Lines, a Gloucester-based lobster boat, who had broken one of the car windows with a hammer to help free the occupants. They worked together quickly with a small group of brave bystanders to help all three of the car's occupants out of the vehicle, which had landed on its roof. According to a preliminary investigation, the vehicle was driven around granite barriers and over the seawall, where it plunged about 15-20 feet into the water. A Gloucester Police investigation is active and ongoing. Gloucester Fire crews arrived on the scene and discovered all three occupants were out of the vehicle but still in the water. The bystanders and off-duty firefighters rendered aid and kept the rescued car's occupants' heads above the water level. 'Fortunately it was low tide and not high tide,' said Deputy Chief Tom LoGrande. All three occupants were transported to area hospitals with varying injuries. Lt. Doucette was also transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. 'Lt. Doucette jumped into the water with little regard for his own safety,' said Deputy Chief LoGrande. 'I'm happy to report that Lt. Doucette is okay after this ordeal. Three people could have easily been lost in Gloucester this morning if not for the bold and decisive actions of these two firefighters and a group of very brave bystanders.' Gloucester Police also responded to the scene and assisted with traffic and crowd control. A local tow company removed the vehicle from the water. All three occupants were conscious and alert when they were removed from the water and transported to area hospitals. 'We'd like to thank everyone who helped get these three people get out of the vehicle,' said Chief Smith. 'If not for all of their selfless efforts, this could have been a tragic day in Gloucester. Instead, this is an inspirational story of our community banding together to help three people in mortal danger. All of these people working together in an emergency makes me proud to be a Gloucester resident.'
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Gloucester Fire Department warn people to 'avoid the area' following fire at local store
The Gloucester Fire Department, along with mutual aid from the Massachusetts State Police, is currently battling a two-alarm fire at a local supermarket. Initial reports came in around 8:23 P.M. when fire crews received word about a situation brewing at the Market Basket on 101 Gloucester Crossing Road. Crews responded to the scene and were able to knock down the fire around 9 P.M. However, the Gloucester Fire Department is warning people to avoid the area as investigations go on. The Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal's Office will also be involved in the investigation. The situation remains under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
