Human Interest 5 Rafters, 2 First Responders Rescued After Getting Stranded on Ore. River Damaged by Fires Police said the rafters, who were not wearing life jackets, had to hold onto a burnt log and a large rock until they were rescued By Joelle Goldstein Joelle Goldstein Instagram Twitter Joelle Goldstein is the Staff Editor of TV for PEOPLE Digital. She has been with the brand for five years, beginning her time as a digital news writer, where she covered everything from entertainment news to crime stories and royal tours. Since then, she has worked as a writer-reporter on the Human Interest team and an associate editor on the TV team. In her current role, Joelle helps oversee all things TV, and enjoys being able to say she has to watch The Kardashians, America's Got Talent, Love Is Blind and Dancing with the Stars for her "work" responsibilities. Prior to joining PEOPLE, Joelle was employed at The Hollywood Reporter, where she was co-nominated at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Magazine Article for feature cover story. She graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor's degree in Television-Radio (and an appearance in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Final Four!) People Editorial Guidelines Published on August 17, 2021 01:56 PM Share Tweet Pin Email First responders rescuing the rafters in the river. Photo: City of Salem Fire Department Seven people had to be rescued from an Oregon River on Sunday after becoming stranded in an area that had been damaged by wildfires, according to authorities. The Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Salem Fire Department both confirmed the incident in posts on Facebook, which included several photos of the dramatic rescue. Police said they received a 911 call on Sunday around 3 p.m. reporting that five people had become stranded in the Santiam River, which is located east of Marion County's Niagra Park. The caller told police that the group was floating on rafts and not wearing life jackets when they encountered rapids in the river and became stranded, their post stated. "Two of the rafters held onto a burnt log while three others were on a rock in the river," the sheriff's office explained in their post. "None of them had required personal flotation devices with them." People being airlifted from the river. City of Salem Fire Department Emergency crews quickly arrived at the scene to pull the rafters to safety, police said. However, it was no easy task as the area of the river where the group was stranded "is difficult to access due to steep terrain and damage from the 2020 wildfires," according to the sheriff's office. The Salem Fire Department (SFD) confirmed in their Facebook post that they were among the first responders who arrived at the scene to help with the rescue. The Oregon Army National Guard, Clackamas Fire District, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, and Oregon State Police, among others, also helped, per the sheriff's department. Emergency crews rescuing those who were stranded on the river. City of Salem Fire Department Someone being airlifted from the river. City of Salem Fire Department 'Courageous' Officers Rescue Couple Trapped Under Iowa Dam After Raft Capsized in River Police said the first responders were able to get personal flotation devices to all five people in the group before their raft overturned, causing two rescuers to also become stranded. Once this occurred, additional agencies were called to the scene, including a helicopter from the Oregon Army National Guard. A total of six people — four rafters and two rescue personnel — were airlifted to safety, while one rafter was successfully rescued by teams on the water, police noted. Despite the harrowing ordeal, no one suffered serious injuries, and only one rafter was taken to a hospital for evaluation, according to the sheriff's department. In their post, the SFD credited the "swift" actions of the responding agencies for preventing something worse from happening. "The combined effort resulted in the rescue of five people from the Santiam River," the fire department wrote. "The teams used swift water rescue, rescue swimmers, rope rescue, and air support to rescue these people. Great Job to all of the responders involved!" RELATED VIDEO: Watch the Dramatic Rescue of California Man from Edge of Waterfall Following the incident, police urged residents to be careful when venturing out on the river and noted how risky it can be during the summer season. "This event is a strong reminder that with the weather heating up, the heavy flow of the water, and the waters being cold, this is a dangerous time," they wrote in their post. "Please be mindful and use extreme caution when swimming or floating on the river," police added. "It is required to bring personal flotation devices when floating down the river."