Nevada County, California – At approximately 6:55 pm on Saturday 5/24/25, Nevada County Consolidated Fire responded to a 911 call reporting a 15-year-old juvenile and two dogs trapped in an abandoned well shaft near the 13000 block of La Barr Meadows Road. Upon arrival, fire crews confirmed that the teen had descended into the shaft—estimated to be 15-20 feet deep, in an attempt to rescue the family pets and was unable to climb out.
The incident prompted an immediate technical rescue response. Nevada County Consolidated Fire Rescue unit 84 was deployed to the scene along with our partner agency Grass Valley Fire.
“Upon assessment, our team determined that the terrain and shaft depth required a vertical rope rescue operation,” said Jason Robitaille, Fire Chief of the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District. “Safety was our top priority, and we implemented a systematic approach to bring all three victims to the surface safely.”
Rescuers secured the area and established a confined space rescue operation. After approximately 1 hour of careful maneuvering, the teen and both dogs were successfully brought to the surface without serious injury. Paramedics on scene evaluated the individuals, and the teen was released at scene with no injuries. The dogs were treated for minor dehydration and are expected to make a full recovery.
“We’re grateful for the quick thinking of the initial reporting party and the professional response of our firefighters,” Chief Robitaille added. “This incident is a reminder of the importance of avoiding unsecured structures and calling for help immediately in emergencies.”
The Nevada County Consolidated Fire District urges the public to report any hazardous abandoned shafts to our agency and to never enter confined spaces without proper training and equipment.
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