NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters  on Tuesday night rescued two kids swimming in the fast-moving Hoosic River in the area of West Liquors.

 

Deputy Fire Chief Robert Patenaude said the children went swimming with their mother and had been taken away by the current.

 

"They were in very severe danger," Patenaude said. "High, fast-moving water, cold water with all of the rain we have had."

 

Patenaude said two off-duty firefighters who lived in the area, Lt. Kevin Alicea and Mitch Maselli, were first on the scene.

 

"One of them knew the area well and he knew where the path was to get down to where the kids were," Patenaude said. "He contacted one of the kids and was able to secure them. When the other arrived he did the same for the kid clinging to a tree."

 

He said once firefighters arrived, they deployed ropes and put on wetsuits to retrieve the kids.

 

Both children were evaluated by Northern Berkshire EMS.

 

North Adams Police were also on scene.

 

Patenaude warned that residents should avoid fast-moving bodies of water.

 

"Stay out," he said. "There is no reason to be in there."

 

The North Adams 911 Facebook page has more photos of the rescue.