Shreveport, La. – On Thursday, December 26, 2024, the Shreveport Fire Department (SFD) executed a swift and lifesaving rescue of a City of Shreveport Water and Sewerage (W&S) employee trapped in a water-filled hole on the 6300 block of Times Place.
The W&S crew had been repairing a water main to restore service to residents in the area when rapidly changing weather conditions caused the nearly 8-foot hole to flood. The trapped employee, stuck in mud as water reached chest height, was unable to free himself. Initial rescue attempts by co-workers were unsuccessful. However, a quick-thinking backhoe operator on the crew is credited with life-saving measures, using the equipment to divert water and prevent further flooding, keeping the employee from being fully submerged.
SFD received the emergency call at 11:32 a.m., and the first unit arrived on the scene within three minutes, at 11:35 a.m. Captain William Millsaps, leading on-scene command, assessed the situation and called for specialized dive team personnel and equipment, as the water had reached the trapped worker’s neck.
Firefighters with water rescue and trench training entered the hole and successfully freed the worker’s legs from the mud, completing the rescue within 16 minutes. The employee was transported to a local hospital in stable condition for evaluation.
A total of eight SFD units, including 21 firefighters and support staff, responded to the incident.
Fire Chief Reese praised the coordinated efforts of the crew, stating, “This was a challenging situation, but the quick response and expertise of everyone involved ensured a positive outcome.”
The SFD has also offered its Critical Incident Stress Management team to the W&S department, recognizing the emotional impact such incidents can have on all involved.
