Inland Water Rescue at Liberty Reservoir

 
By Public Information Officer Clay Myers
March 29, 2026
 

A mid-day water rescue challenged firefighters, EMS providers, and law enforcement on Sunday, March 29, 2026. Gamber station and neighboring companies were alerted at 11:41 am for a person in the water under the Route 32 bridge in the Liberty Reservoir. Witnesses reported that a person went over the side of the bridge from the roadway.

Units from Gamber, Reese, and Sykesville were dispatched along with CCDFEMS personnel. Law enforcement closed the bridge to all traffic and rescue personnel staged on the roadway. Responding personnel reported seeing the victim floating on the surface below. Rescue swimmers prepared to enter the water while Gamber's Boat 13 went to the boat docks off of Oakland Mills Road. Sykesville's ATV12 accessed the shoreline from the northeast side of the bridge. MSP Trooper 3 was alerted to transport the victim to the hospital with a landing site at Liberty High School. Winfield's engine was dispatched to handle the helicopter landing site.

Rescue swimmers from Reese and Sykesville swam out to the victim and brought the person back to the shore. They were met with EMS personnel and ATV12 provided transport back up to the bridge and to the medic unit.

After evaluation, the helicopter was cancelled and the victim was transported to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore via medic unit. Units cleared the scene shortly thereafter and the bridge was reopened to traffic.

 
Units: Engine 134, Duty 13, Dive 13, Brush 136, Boat 13, Boat 13-1, Utility 13 and Utility 13-1.
 
Mutual Aid: Sykesville, Reese, County Dive Team Members, Winfield, Carroll County Sheriffs, MSP troopers, Trooper 3, Watershed Police, DNR, CCDFEMS personnel.