Calif. firefighters rescue puppy from 20-foot hole

Crews conducted a confined space rescue and firefighters were lowered with ropes to retrieve the puppy

February 02, 2016 08:27 AM

The Bakersfield Californian

LAMONT, Calif. — An inquisitive, or perhaps just clumsy, pooch was rescued by firefighters Monday morning after becoming trapped in a vault about 20 feet below the ground in Lamont.

Firefighters descended on ropes to retrieve the puppy in peril, who they described as in “good condition.” They used air monitoring devices to determine there were no hazardous materials in the hole.

The incident occurred just before 8:30 a.m. in the 7300 block of Panama Road.

Crews conducted a confined space rescue and firefighters were lowered with ropes to retrieve the puppy, according to KCFD.

“The Kern County Fire Department believes a life is a life, human or canine,” the KCFD said in a news release “This was also a great training opportunity at no extra cost to the department to practice lifesaving skills by the Urban Search and Rescue Company.”

Kern County Animal Services said if no one comes forward to claim the dog in five business days, he will be available for adoption at the Fruitvale shelter.