A routine drive from Fire Headquarters turned into an animal rescue on May 31 when Lynbrook firefighters helped reunite a duckling with its family after it became trapped in a storm drain.
According to Lynbrook Fire Department Public Information Officer Steve Grogan, firefighter Vincent Lucchese of Rescue Hook, Ladder & Bucket Company No. 1 noticed a mother duck and several ducklings acting distressed near the intersection of Wright Avenue and Wood Street. After guiding the birds away from traffic, Lucchese discovered that one duckling had fallen through a storm drain grate and was trapped about three feet below.
Lucchese called for assistance from fellow members of the truck company, who arrived with tools to lift the heavy grate. Once the opening was secured, Lucchese carefully reached into the catch basin and rescued the unharmed duckling.
After the reunion, firefighters escorted the mother duck and her brood through a nearby gate onto adjacent water company property, away from traffic. The family was last seen safely together, bringing a happy ending to the unusual rescue.
