Five employees were rescued from Colgate Powerhouse after a high-pressure pipe burst Friday, releasing a torrent of water and debris into Yuba County’s main hydroelectric facility.
The mile-long pipe carries water from New Bullards Bar Dam to the powerhouse, which is situated on the banks of the Yuba River. Just before 3 p.m. Friday, the pipe suffered a «catastrophic failure» that sent water rushing downhill from the pipe and into the facility, the Yuba Water Agency said.
A technical rescue team from the Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit was dispatched to the scene. At 5:38 p.m. Friday, the team was using drones and helicopters to search for one missing person, Cal Fire officials said. By 6:03 p.m., the person was rescued by a helicopter and transported to a local hospital.
The person remained hospitalized Saturday, Yuba Water said in a weekend update. The agency said it was working to determine the cause of the break and minimize the environmental impact on the Yuba River.
«Right now, we’re focusing on doing everything we can to prevent any additional debris from entering the Yuba River and continuing to secure the site ahead of forecasted rain tomorrow,» said Yuba Water Agency General Manager Willie Whittlesey.