A dog that was walking in the Los Angeles River today near Vernon was rescued by a city fire helicopter crew, a fire official said.
The dog was reported walking in several inches of water about 11:30 a.m.
near Washington Boulevard, said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The "river" is actually a flood control channel that is usually dry, except when it rains, as it has for the past five days.
The sides of the concrete ditch are steep and the canine was unable to climb out.
A bridge was shut down as fire engines, ambulances and helicopters -- including media choppers -- swarmed the scene.
The dog ran away from initial rescue attempts, but eventually, a firefighter dropped into the water from a helicopter and tackled the dog, which put up a bit of a fight before being lifted to safety.
The dog was transported by ambulance for a veterinary examination.
The firefighter was examined for a possible dog bite and taken to a hospital for an unspecified injury.
Advertisement