Firefighter-paramedic Jesse Berry, left, and Firefighter-EMT John Quade assess the calf's situation. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Firefighters rescued a calf late this afternoon that a passerby discovered had sunk up to its chest in thick mud off of Salzer Valley Road in Centralia.
Riverside Fire Authority Chief Jim Walkowski said the animal weighed more than 250 pounds and was probably about a year old.
“Definitely stuck and he was cold,” Walkowski said. “He must have been down there a couple of hours.”
The crew used techniques they recently learned on large animal rescue, according to the chief. The training helps firefighters deal with incidents involving animal trailers, trails and stables.
“The public has an expectation that when they call 9-1-1, that the fire department will send personnel with specialty training to help them with their situation,” Walkowski said in a news release.
Five firefighters answered the 5:45 p.m. call and had to dig under the calf’s belly to use straps and pull him out.
Once they got him out, they had to let him rest before he was strong enough to stand up, according to Walkowski.
“And then he walked over and started eating,” he said.
Another passerby said they knew who the owner was and would contact them, Walkowski said.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter