The call was not for a cat in a tree but a calf in a hole that took firefighters off the beaten path and into a farmer’s field in Imperial on Monday (Sept. 18), said Mike Arnhart, Antonia Fire Protection District’s chief.
“A resident stopped by Station 1 to tell us that his 3-day old calf had fallen into a hole in the ground,” Arnhart said.
Just after 7:30 a.m., when firefighters arrived at the field on the end of Meadowbrook Road, they found the calf about 20 feet down a deep and narrow crevice.
Antonia Fire called personnel from Rock Community Fire Protection District, who are specially trained in technical rescues, to come and help free the animal, Arnhart said.
The crevice was so narrow that just one firefighter could fit in the hole, he said.
Antonia firefighter Don Pica was the one who went down into the hole to retrieve the calf. The space was so tight that an air line had to be dropped into the hole to make sure there was enough oxygen for Pica since he could not wear an air tank in the small space, Arnhart said.
“We had to use some caution before we put him in there,” Arnhart said. “We had to secure lines and ropes at an anchor point so we would be able to get them out.
Pica was strapped in a harness and lowered 20 feet to the animal. He carried a sling to wrap around the calf so firefighters would be able to pull it out.
The ordeal lasted about three hours, but the calf was finally brought to the surface, unharmed, Arnhart said.
“The calf was fine,” he said.
Arnhart said he is sure the farmer will secure the area around the hole to help keep the calf safe in the future.