Tucson Fire rescued a person from their SUV on the far southeast side at the Pantano Wash and Valencia Road late Thursday night. A call was made to 9-1-1 from the driver, who was concerned that he was going to die as water was coming into the vehicle.
A swift water response was sent out at 10:45 P.M. with TFD as well as Rincon Valley Fire dispatched to the scene from both directions of the wash. Engine 19 from TFD arrived on scene and established face to face communication with the occupant. Crews threw a rope to him as he had moved to sitting in the window and told him what our rescue plans were. The occupant was very concerned and nervous and crews tried to calm him and assure him things would be okay. Quint 17 arrived on scene and immediately extended the ladder to the vehicle.
Two firefighters walked out to the vehicle and assisted the occupant onto the ladder. He was then able to follow the firefighters back to safety. Crews had him out of the vehicle and on shore approximately 20 minutes after the initial dispatch. The occupant was not injured but very shaken due to the situation.
Fire personnel were able to take the occupant to another location where he was meeting friends or family. The vehicle was still in the wash and would be towed out when the water level had receded to a safe level. This was the second time in the last 5 days that TFD personnel had to rescue someone from a vehicle that had been moved due to the force of water.