A press release from the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Department:
Route 62 Bridge at Fox River Dam, Algonquin, Illinois – Swift Water Incident
At 12:17 p.m., June 25, 2014 the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded to a report of a boat in distress, nearing the low head dam on the Fox River at the Route 62 Bridge, in Algonquin. An employee from the Port Edward Restaurant, 20 West Harrison Street, notified the 911 dispatch center of a pontoon boat, occupied with two people and a dog, that was drifting towards the dam.
The down river side of the Algonquin dam on the Fox River during a previous time when the water was moving swiftly.
First responding emergency personnel arrived on the scene within three minutes at 12:20 p.m. and found the pontoon boat lodged under the bridge. The boat was inoperable due to engine issues and became stuck under the bridge due to high water levels and the swift current.
Firefighters quickly dropped ropes to the boat and secured it in place until the Fire District Boat could reach the occupants, remove them from their boat, and deliver them safely to a nearby pier.
No civilian or fire district injuries were reported.