Fire-Rescue is many things to many people. But for Palm Beach County, FL Fire-Rescue Engine 34, Fire-Rescue is taking on new meaning. It seems as though the crew of Station 34-A shift is taking on the title of Animal Rescue League. Last week it was a cat trapped inside a wall space behind a bath tub. The crew used a reciprocating saw to remove a section of the wall and free the cat who had been sealed up by maintenance men approximately four days prior.
On August 16th, the engine company was again called out for an unusual animal rescue call. Now this wasn't your typical "cat-in-a-tree" call. This as it turned out, was a rare Blue & Gold Macaw, a large bird worth a couple thousand dollars. His owner reported to us that he flew the coup the day before and that she'd been searching for him for about 20 hours. He was found in a row of Australian Pine trees in an alleyway between Golden Lakes Blvd. and Benoist Farms Rd. in suburban West Palm Beach.
The crew of Engine 34, Lt. Kevin Kimberly, Driver/Operator Mark Carr (the resident cameraman) and Firefighter Keithon Wright quickly sprung into action to rescue the bird known as Barney Fagley. Using a 24' extension ladder, Firefighter Wright was able to climb up to the bird and woo it onto his hand, then his shoulder. Barney held on tight to Firefighter Wright's helmet face shield as he descended the ladder and was turned over to his owner. After a tearful reunion, Barney was loaded into the car and taken back home where he was soon to have his wings clipped.
