BOISE — A Boise Fire Department training exercise turned into a real-life rescue along the Boise River Tuesday morning.
It began about 12 noon when three dive team crews were training in the water near the Broadway Bridge and the boat they were in lost power and became lodged under the bridge.
One member was able to make it out of the water on his own. “He’s currently being evaluated at a local hospital for minor injuries,” said Boise Fire Department spokesperson Char Jackson.
The second crew member had to be rescued by the BFD Special Operations team. A third stayed behind to help rescue crews but is now safe.
“He’s safe, and will be assisting with the boat retrieval,” Jackson said.
The Boise Fire Department worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation to take the unusual step of lowering the water level -– which is currently running at about 6,500 cubic feet per second -– to a level which would make it safe to retrieve both the boat and the third crew member.
