LISBON, Maine — Three people were trapped by swift rising water as they were fishing below the Miller Hydro Dam in Lisbon Falls on Saturday. All three were rescued thanks to the cooperation of Lisbon Fire Service, Lisbon Emergency, Durham Fire and Topsham Fire. Miller Hydro personnel assisted by opening a floodgate on the dam to assist in the rescue.
At 6:11 p.m., Lisbon Police Department was dispatched to the area of the Miller Hydro Dam for a 911 call of three people stuck on a rock by the dam. The caller was one of the subjects trapped on the rocks. Lisbon police arrived and located two male teenagers and an adult male stuck on a large rock with whitewater rapids around them.
The Lisbon Fire Department and Lisbon Fire Department water rescue boat were dispatched to the scene as well as Durham Fire Department and their water and rescue boat. Lisbon Emergency, Topsham Rescue and Durham Rescue also responded with ambulances to the scene. Both rescue boats were immediately launched up the river when they arrived on scene.
The water was still rising and Lisbon Fire Department Command had Lisbon Communications Center contact Miller Hydro Dam and had them open their floodgates to lower the water level, so Fire and Rescue could reach the three individuals trapped on the rock. Miller Hydro Dam employees quickly responded and were able to open the floodgates, which in turn lowered the water level.
Lisbon Fire Department’s water rescue teams were able to use safety ropes and were able to successfully make it to the three trapped individuals. The two juveniles were 16 and 17 and the adult was Brandon Smith, 19, all from Brunswick. They were safely brought back to shore by the water rescue team and were checked out by Lisbon EMS and Durham Rescue. Their parents were called to the scene and picked them up. The teens were not injured, just cold. They said they went out on the rocks to go fishing and all of a sudden the water quickly came up and they were trapped on the rocks. Lisbon communications stayed on the phone with the boys during the entire 45-minute rescue, keeping them informed throughout the process.
The Maine Warden Service has been notified and will be following up with the boys.