9 People Rescued From Poudre River on the 4th

Nine people were rescued from the Poudre River on Thursday.

Poudre Fire Authority said in a press release that it led the Fourth of July afternoon operation to locate all of the rafters near the Lions Open Space, about a quarter mile east of Overland Trail.

One of the displaced rafters was transported by helicopter. One received CPR. Bystanders phoned emergency authorities about the situation after witnessing the rafters in distress.

Rescue operations arrived on the scene around 3:17 p.m. Eight people were found in an island in the Poudre River. The ninth passenger was in a tree in the river.

Crews are still searching for a missing rafter from earlier this season. Poudre River water levels are considered high after above average spring precipitation.

Last year, Poudre Fire said it responded to a total of 21 water rescues.