PORT ANGELES — A large emergency response was launched midday Friday after reports of a possible water rescue involving children near the Elwha River. The incident prompted a multi-agency response but was quickly resolved when it was determined there was no emergency.
Clallam 2 Fire Rescue and the Port Angeles Fire Department responded to the initial call, which included preliminary information that children may have been trapped on an embankment. Based on those early reports, Fire District 3 was also called in for mutual aid.
Clallam 2 Chief Jake Patterson tells KONP that upon arrival and a brief search of the area, responders located two juvenile males who had been in the river but were not in distress and did not require assistance.
Family members were contacted and arrived shortly after to take the juveniles home. All responding agencies cleared the scene once it was confirmed there was no active emergency.
Patterson says the call was made in good faith by someone who was concerned about the safety of the two youths seen in the river.