Firefighters and deputies in Lake County helped saved a water-logged blue heron in post-Irma flooding Friday.
Lake County Fire Rescue’s Chief Dan Miller and Lt. Jason Rivera were on the hunt for an elusive python in Astor, but instead came across a struggling blue heron water-logged in Astor’s flooding post-Irma, according to a news release. The blue heron is an iconic symbol in the county’s logo.
“We were sitting at the Unified Command posts and a gentleman came running in crying hysterically that a 9-foot python just ate his cat,” said Chief Miller in the release. “We jumped up and took off to go looking for the snake and we couldn’t find it. What we found was this bird flopping around in the water. It couldn’t get out.”
The firefighters, in dry suits and heavy gloves, picked up the struggling heron and placed it into a LCSO Agriculture/Marine Unit truck, where the bird was allowed to and dry out. It was eventually released back into the wild.
“People think of the fire service as just putting out fires and working on injured patients, but we are a part of the community and will work on whatever mission comes before us,” said Fire Chief Jim Dickerson.
For up to date news on Lake County fire Rescue, visit www.facebook.com/LakeCountyFireRescue or www.twitter.com/lakefirePIO.
