COURTESY PHOTO BY LYNN FIRE DEPARTMENT
Lynn firefighters Edward Power and Daniel Navaroli worked to free six ducklings caught in a drain Sunday.
By THOMAS GRILLO
LYNN — It’s not exactly a scene out of “Make Way For Ducklings,” but it comes close.
In Robert McCloskey’s classic children’s book, a kindly police officer guides Mrs. Mallard and her brood safely through Boston’s congested streets to their new home in the Public Garden.
But in the Lynn version, six ducklings who had fallen into a storm drain at North Bend and Boston streets were rescued by firefighters.
The drama started at 6 p.m. Sunday night when District Chief Arthur Richard alerted the Broadway fire station about some ducklings trapped in a catch basin near the CVS Pharmacy parking lot.
Within minutes, Engine Four responded.
It took firefighters a half hour to remove grates from a handful of storm drains in the area until they found them, according to Lt. Edward Power, one of the first responders.
“We pulled the drain cover off and discovered them swimming in standing water,” he said. “We scooped them into a milk crate and a recycling bucket and reunited them with their mother who was waiting in the nearby bushes.”
But not before there was a little more drama.
Lynn District Fire Chief Stephen Archer said initially they found four ducklings,rescued them, and closed the drain.
But as the team, that also included Robert Kimber, Daniel Navaroli, and Christopher Doucette, was leaving, they heard more sounds coming from the drain.
“They opened the drain up again and found two more ducklings down there,” Archer said. “They got them out and sent the whole family on their way.”
Thomas Grillo can be reached at [email protected].