Coordinated response safely lifts trapped animal from ditch
A Fort Collins horse is back on solid ground after a coordinated rescue effort by Poudre Fire Authority crews Saturday afternoon.
At approximately 4:01 p.m. on May 2, a call was transferred to Fort Collins 911 reporting a horse stuck in a ditch in the 2400 block of Blevins Street. When crews arrived, they found the horse—later identified as Comanche—with its hind legs trapped in a narrow trench.
Firefighters quickly shifted focus to stabilizing the animal and developing a safe extraction plan. Crews used a water jet to widen the space around the horse, allowing them to secure the lifting straps. A rope rescue system anchored to a fire apparatus was paired with a second system connected inside a nearby barn, giving responders the control needed to carefully lift and guide the horse back onto stable ground.
A veterinarian responded to the scene and evaluated Comanche, who was cleared after the rescue. Additional support came from UCHealth and City of Fort Collins Utilities, contributing to what officials described as a successful outcome…