March 15--Boca Raton firefighters responded to a different type of family emergency Thursday.
A resident heard baby ducks chirping from inside a storm drain, and saw a frantic mother duck pacing nearby. The crew on Truck 4, at 351 W. Yamato Rd., was called to help the mother duck and her 12 ducklings.
Capt. Mike Altamuro removed the heavy steel grate and lowered a ladder down into the drain. Lt. Robert Cervi climbed down and was able to haul nine ducklings out.
But three others remained in the pipe and wouldn't come out.
So firefighter Chris Innerst went down an adjacent drain with a fire hose. Using a gentle stream of water. he forced the other ducklings into the arms of Cervi.
Cervi reunited the ducklings with their mother, and the 13 of them waddled off.
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