BREAKING

MCSO assisted with 6 water rescue calls Saturday morning

Garrett Mitchell, and Ryan Santistevan
The Republic | azcentral.com
The Rural Metro Fire Department rescued two motorists who attempted to cross a flooded creek bed early Saturday.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and multiple water rescue teams assisted with six separate incidents Saturday.

Heavy rains associated with Winter Storm Kori hit Maricopa County midday Friday and intensified throughout the evening. The northwest Valley had significant rainfall in a short period of time, leading to flash flooding in and around washes.

Arizona had a chance to dry out Saturday, giving communities time to recover. But the Phoenix area could see the return of rain Sunday and Monday.

Sunday will see a 30 percent of chance for rain, especially at night, said National Weather Service meteorologist Jaret Rogers. The high is expected to warm up to 62 degrees.

Increasing chances for rain on Monday will reach 70 percent. Rogers said the high temperature is expected to reach 61 and the low 51. Chances for rain will linger into the afternoon, but then things will start to dry up. No rain is expected for the rest of the week.

"It's not going to be as wet as the previous system that we just experienced," Rogers said. "We will still see rainfall around the Valley, especially in higher terrain."

Cave Creek rescue

The Rural Metro Fire Department rescued the occupants of a small SUV stuck in a washed-out creek bed in Cave Creek.

The two men attempted to cross the typically dry creek bed in the area of Old New River Road and 51st Street when they became stuck about 20 feet away from the bank, causing Rural Metro and other Valley fire agencies to assist in a shallow-water rescue.

The incident follows a night of rainfall that flooded areas in the far northwest Valley.

"Dry washes may look harmless but there are definitely some hidden dangers," said Rural Metro fire spokesman Shawn Gilleland. He encouraged motorists to avoid crossing the seemingly non-threatening terrain, even when it appears the water isn't deep.

Other agencies involved in the rescue included the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and the Glendale and Phoenix fire departments.

Rural Metro reported at about 10:15 a.m. that the two men were successfully air-evacuated from the vehicle without injury.

Table Mesa Road rescue

According to the Sheriff's Office, at 12:45 a.m., deputies responded to a call of two people stranded on top of a submerged vehicle in rapidly flowing wash water, trapped against some rocks in the area of Table Mesa Road, approximately 3 miles east of Interstate 17 in New River.

Deputies said one of the people was able to make it safety to land without help. The stranded woman was rescued by multiple fire departments with swift water and rescue teams. The Sheriff's Office helicopter dropped a life jacket to the woman and used their skid to return her to land, where Daisy Mountain Fire Department evaluated her. She was released at the scene.

Sycamore Creek call

A vehicle got stuck when it tried to cross the river near the Sycamore Creek area. The water rose to the bottom of the vehicle's doors, making it float, according to the Sheriff's Office.The vehicle occupants were on the roof of the vehicle. Sheriff's Office lake patrol and its search and rescue team responded. While both teams were en route, 911 received a second call stating the occupants had been able to get out of the water on their own. Deputies responded and were unable to locate anyone in the area of the vehicle.

New River Wash rescue 

The Sheriff's Office helicopter was requested to assist District 4 and Phoenix fire with a vehicle in the New River Wash.
One passenger was found inside the truck in the wash and the water was lapping over the hood. According to the Sheriff's Office, the helicopter landed across the river when the truck started to float downstream due to the water rising.The helicopter spoke to the vehicle occupant via cellphone and then was able to fly to the driver's door and hand him a flotation device through the window.

As the helicopter backed away, the man was instructed to get on the roof. He was then lifted into the helicopter.

Tonto National Forest rescue

The Sheriff's Office responded to help two elderly people stuck near the Bartlett Lake and Tonto National Forest area. The vehicle was floating in the water. Bartlett Lake deputies and the Sheriff's Office helicopter responded with Rural Metro and Phoenix Fire Swift Water Rescue. Both people were rescued and needed no additional medical attention.

Seven Springs rescue

Three people in a Jeep got stuck in the Seven Springs area. Sheriff's Office deputies, lake patrol, search and rescue, mountain rescue swift water rescue and Rural Metro Fire Department responded. The mountain rescue team was able to retrieve the three people safely.