On Saturday June 27th at 1834 hours, units were alerted to the Lake Linganore Dam for a swift water rescue. This was reported to be a boat over the dam with persons trapped in swift water. The New Market Volunteers dumped the house with A159(Lt. Williamson), RE153(Lt. Hanagan), E152(AFC Kennedy), U15/BT15(AFC Thews), B156(Prob. Buchheit), CAR15(Sgt. Thews), and C15(FC Nalborczyk). A total of 26 volunteers, including 11 swift water technicians responded from NMDVFD. While enroute ECC advised the units responding that police were on the scene advising that 7 victims were in the water. An EMS task force, aviation, the Advanced Technical Rescue Team, and a third boat were requested.

Upon arriving at the scene units began to evaluate the situation and develop a plan. C15 established Command, while E152's officer was made the rescue group supervisor. Crews found a total of 5 victims still in the water on arrival. BT15 went to work on the most distressed victim, who was pinned on the falls below the dam. She was rescued in about 10 minutes after personnel were able to get a flotation ring to her and have her jump down into the lake below, where SWT's from BT15 were waiting to catch her. Crews then focused on 3 patients stuck on a tree in the middle of the dam. Trooper 3 was able to reach them with the hoist line and basket to pick them off the dam. Four victims who had made it out on there own were picked up by BT2 and ferried to safety and waiting EMS units.

The 9th and final victim was reported to be pinned under water downstream of the dam and had been there for some time without movement. The effort was deemed a recovery at this point. Crews regrouped and formulated a plan for the recovery. ATR1(Kunkle) led this effort. BT2 was put in upstream of the victim, while BT15 was put in downstream. Both boats had to be carried or lowered via rope systems to reach the water below the dam. The recovery effort took about 3 hours, but the victim was eventually removed and declared priority 4 by EMS staff. Crews spent the next couple hours cleaning up and recovering equipment.

An outstanding job was done by all of the personnel involved in the rescue effort. Eight victims were able to be transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Unfortunately one victim was not able to be saved. Our prayers go out to the family of the victims of this tragic incident.