RFD switches gears from training to rescue on Hitchcock Creek

ROCKINGHAM — Firefighters rescued several people from Hitchcock Creek Monday evening — less than an hour after training for such an event.

The Rockingham Fire Department held a swift water rescue drill on the creek, navigating kayaks down the waterway days after rains from Tropical Storm Debby led to a rise in the water level.

“This training is done several times a year to ensure that our personnel are readily prepared to make rescues off the creek in the event of emergencies,” reads a post on the department’s Facebook page from Chief Harold Isler.

“Although we navigated the creek early this year while the water was calm, tonight gave our personnel a different perspective by having to control the kayaks in swift water while avoiding trees and other objects that were found in the waterway as a result of Hurricane Debby,” Isler said

About 30 minutes after finishing the drill, the firefighters had to put their training to the test with a real rescue.

According to Isler, two adults and a child were found stranded on a bank near Williamsburg Drive after their kayaks overturned due to a downed tree and a swift current.

All three were rescued “without harm,” according to Isler.

“The individuals rescued were not from the area,” Isler told the RO on Wednesday. “They were visiting from Alaska. (I’m) sure they didn’t understand the dangers associated with the swift high water as a result of what Debby left behind.”

RFD had help from the Richmond County Rescue Squad and FirstHealth EMS.

“The help from both agencies was greatly appreciated,” Isler said.

The chief also issued a word of caution to prospective paddlers.

“Although kayaking Hitchcock Creek can be extremely fun, it can also be very dangerous when the water is moving fast, and it is as high as it is right now,” Isler said. “We ask that if anyone plans to navigate the creek this week while the water level is high, please use caution, wear a life jacket, and do so in the daylight hours.”