Firefighters rescue 9 from Poudre River in northern Colorado

Firefighters say they rescued nine people from the Poudre River in northern Colorado after getting reports of rafters in trouble.

The Poudre Fire Authority said eight people were rescued off a small island in the river in LaPorte on Thursday and a ninth person was found in a tree in the river. One of those rescued was flown by helicopter to the hospital but that person’s condition isn’t known.

The agency is warning people not to underestimate the power and unpredictability of the river after heavy snow this winter.

A 57-year-old man is still missing after being thrown from his raft in the river on June 29

At least eight people have died this year in Colorado’s rivers which are running high as mountain snow melts.