Authorities Respond to Reported Water Rescue Near Main Avenue

Crews search for person in river near Main Ave bridge in Fargo-Moorhead area

Mar. 2, 2026 at 9:31pm

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Emergency responders from Fargo Fire Department, Moorhead Fire, and Sanford Ambulance are currently on the scene near the Main Avenue bridge in Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota searching for a person reported to be in the river. The call came in around 2:35 p.m. and crews are coordinating the response across the state line.

Why it matters

Water rescues are dangerous operations that require specialized training and equipment. The location near the Main Avenue bridge, which spans the Red River between the two cities, adds additional complexity to the response. Authorities are working to quickly locate and assist the individual while ensuring the safety of the rescue crews.

The details

According to officials, the call came in around 2:35 p.m. that a person was in the river near the Main Ave bridge. The river currently has some sections of open water near the bridge supports. Moorhead Police, Moorhead Fire, Fargo Fire, and Sanford Ambulance are all on the scene coordinating the response across the state line.

  • The call came in at 2:35 p.m. that a person was in the river near the Main Ave bridge.

The players

Fargo Fire Department

The fire department in Fargo, North Dakota that is assisting in the water rescue response.

Moorhead Fire

The fire department in Moorhead, Minnesota that is assisting in the water rescue response.

Sanford Ambulance

The ambulance service providing medical support for the water rescue response.

Katie Ettish

Moorhead Public Safety Communications spokeswoman providing details on the incident.

Ryan Erickson

Fargo Fire Department Fire Marshal giving a statement on the rescue efforts.

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What they’re saying

“Crews are currently on scene searching for a person that is in the river.”

— Ryan Erickson, Fargo Fire Department Fire Marshal

“After coordinating on scene, supervisors from the departments determined the individual involved had come from the Fargo side of the river.”

— Katie Ettish, Moorhead Public Safety Communications spokeswoman

What’s next

Rescue crews will continue searching the river and coordinating the response across state lines until the individual is located and safely removed from the water.

The takeaway

Water rescues require a swift and coordinated response from multiple emergency agencies, especially when spanning jurisdictional boundaries. The safety of both the individual in distress and the rescue crews is the top priority in these high-risk operations.