Rescue reminds Fire Chief of old friend

WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WIVB) - Swollen creeks and streams seem to be a draw for some western New Yorkers, and that can turn into a dangerous situation for the firefighters who risk their lives to save them.

22 years ago, Union fire fighter Louis Fluery lost his life during a dramatic water rescue in West Seneca.

Union Fire Chief Gary Mack said, "It was terrible, it was terrible. He never came out trying to rescue people in that same area."

Monday night, Chief Mack returned to the very place along the Buffalo Creek where Fluery died. Four people found themselves stranded after their raft tipped over.

Mack said, "We kept them calm. We said 'hold on to the raft, don't let go. Just stay on the raft. Let our water rescue team do their job.'"

The rescue was surprisingly quick and easy despite rising water and strong currents.

Mack said, "By the time we got here, we got everything up about 15-20 minutes max. It was pretty fast."

Time and time again, officials say people flirt with the dangerous waters of the Buffalo Creek.

Last month, water rescue teams say they were called to the creek near Union and Clinton to make three rescues in a five hour peroid.

Mack said, "If anyone can learn a lesson from anything. Stay off the rafts, out of the water. It's dangerous for yourself and all the crews that train all day long to do this."

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Rescue crews saved everyone.

One of those rescue workers explains why each water rescue makes him think back to 20 years ago.

"It was terrible, it was terrible," said Union Fire Chief Gary Mack.

Mack knows what it's like to lose a friend during a water rescue.

"About 20 years ago, we lost one of our members down at Lexington Green," said Mack. "He never came out trying to rescue in that same area."

When Chief Mack helped save five people stranded in the Buffalo Creek, he thought about the friend that he lost.

He did everything he could to prevent a tragedy.

"We kept them calm, we said hold on to the raft, don't let go. Just stay on the raft, let our water rescue team do their job," said Mack.

Mack along with several others at the scene have performed dozens of rescues over the years.

This particular assignment mission was quick and easy.

"By the time we got here, we got everything up about 15-20 minutes max, it was pretty fast," Mack explained.

With high waters and fast moving currents still lingering from Monday's storm, Chief Mack has this reminder. "If anyone can learn a lesson from anything, stay off the rafts, out of the water, it's dangerous for yourself and all the crews that train all day long to do this."