Subjects trapped at Fawns Leap

​On Tuesday, 7/25/23, at 14:59 Company 19 was dispatched with the Twin Cloves Tech Rescue Team for a report of multiple subjects trapped on the rocks by rising flash flood waters in the area of Fawns Leap swimming hole off of Route 23A. While enroute to the scene Car 1 was flagged down and notified of an incident with additional subjects trapped downstream of the original call in the area of Rats Hole. Command notified incoming units and diverted all Centerville equiptment to the additional call while the team from Greene County and City of Kingston arrived on scene of the original call at Fawns Leap. At this time Car 1 made a request for the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office swift water team as well as the Ulster Hose dive team to the scene to assist with the operation. An additional request for Truck 1 to the scene for lighting was made due do the possibility of an extensive operation going into the night hours. 2 members were deployed over the edge down to the stream bed with throw bags in the event any of the subjects fell into the rising water. A main line was set up upstream for the additional rescuers and equipment as well as 2 more additional lines for rescuers to use to bring the subjects up. The swift water team deployed their equiptment and brought all subjects across the rushing water. The subjects were then brought back up to the roadway by rescue personnel. After all subjects were rescued the operation was broken down and equiptment and personnel relocated to the incident at Fawns Leap. Personnel then assisted in the completion of the 2nd rescue.

​All equipment was placed back in service around 20:00hrs. In total 19 individuals were rescued by responders. The rescue operation included various agencies from numerous counties including the Twin Cloves Technical Rescue Team, Greene County Paramedics, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Forrest Rangers, Ulster County Sheriff's Office, Centerville Fire District, City of Kingston Fire Department, and Ulster Hose Co.#5.