Firefighters Rescue Trapped Donkey from Eloy Canal

Experienced crews use ropes and vehicles to safely retrieve the animal from the water.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:07pm

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Firefighters in Eloy, Arizona, responded to a call about a donkey trapped in a local canal. Using their expertise in livestock handling, the crew was able to secure the animal and pull it to safety without entering the water themselves.

Why it matters

Animal rescues, especially of larger livestock, can be challenging and require specialized training. This successful operation highlights the preparedness and skills of the Eloy Fire District in handling unexpected emergencies involving animals in their community.

The details

When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found the donkey struggling to free itself from the CAP canal near Highway 87 and Shedd Road. Firefighters Travis and Hannah Hartman, who have experience working with livestock, quickly jumped into action. They used ropes and vehicles to secure the donkey and carefully pull it out of the water without ever entering themselves.

  • The emergency call came in recently to the Eloy Fire District.
  • Firefighters responded to the canal location near Highway 87 and Shedd Road.

The players

Eloy Fire District

The local fire department that responded to the emergency call and carried out the successful donkey rescue operation.

Firefighters Travis and Hannah Hartman

Two Eloy firefighters with expertise in livestock handling who led the efforts to secure and retrieve the trapped donkey from the canal.

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The takeaway

This incident demonstrates the importance of having well-trained emergency responders who can effectively handle unexpected situations involving animals in the community. The Eloy Fire District's successful rescue operation highlights their preparedness and commitment to public safety, even when the call involves an unusual scenario.