Fairfield Firefighters Rescue Three from Penfield Reef

Fairfield fire personnel rescued three teens stranded on Penfield Reef Tuesday afternoon, according to a press release from Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Tracy. The teens were unable to swim to shore from the reef due to rising tides.

Three 18-year-olds -- James Scarmuzzino and Griffin Goblirsh of Bethany and Sam Moore of Orange -- were rescued by the fire department’s Marine 7 vessel after the police department’s boat was unable to reach the teens due to shallow waters, according to the release. A Good Samaritan had reported the stranded teens to the town’s Emergency Communications Center.

The three young men had “walked out the reef to take a swim at the lighthouse but decided it was too much for them, and when the turned to return realized they’d been cut off from the jetty due to the rising tide,” according to Lt. Roger Caisse, who piloted Marine 7.

Before being brought to shore, the young men were evaluated for medical issues but no injuries were reported, according to the release. They were brought back to shore and released.

“The Fire Department would like to remind everyone to use caution and observe all posted warnings when swimming or boating in unfamiliar waters,” said Incident Commander Scott Bisson, Assistant Chief with the Fairfield Fire Department. “Tides, storms and weather constantly change the height of the sand bars and reefs around Long Island Sound, and may make an area that was previously safe different than expected.”