CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Firefighters Rescue Woman, Search For Dog in Weekend Buck Gully Incident

A woman trying to find her missing dog in the heavy brush of Buck Gully was rescued Saturday night after she became stuck in the vegetation — but firefighters were unable to find the dog, despite using thermal cameras and conducting an extensive search, fire officials said today.

The incident began at 11:36 p.m. Saturday, when firefighters were called to the 600 block of Poppy Avenue to rescue a woman stuck in the brush behind her home, where the drop off to the bottom of the Buck Gully canyon is about 30 feet and is covered with thick vegetation, said Newport Beach Battalion Chief Jeff Boyles in an email.

“Fire Department units were able to locate her in the thick vegetation and make access to her using a rope that she had tied off to her backyard deck,” Boyles said. “Firefighters brought her back up to safety. However, her dog remained missing in the deep brush of the Buck Gully area.”

Firefighters set up lighting equipment, then a firefighter was lowered down the canyon cliff with a high-angle rope lowering system, Boyles said. Two additional firefighters hiked to the canyon floor, following trails to look for the dog.

“The firefighter that was lowered via ropes was attempting to locate the dog in areas alongside the cliff in the brush while the firefighters below searched creek side,” Boyles said. “All of the firefighters had Thermal Imaging Cameras which show heat sources during night time situations. None of the crews were able to locate the dog utilizing light, thermal imaging cameras or sound.”

Boyles said it was not known how long the dog had been missing before the homeowner began her search, and he did not know if the dog had returned home.

Firefighters from Corona del Mar and Fashion Island fire stations responded to the call.