Make Way for Ducklings -- Plainfield Fire Department Comes to the Rescue

Oh, the pitfalls of suburban life.

You're born, you're walking ... and the next thing you know, you're in the sewer. And not just you, but your eight siblings, too, all of whom have marched right in behind you.

It happens every year, Deputy Chief Jon Stratton said: Baby ducks that need rescuing. In this case, it was from the sewer grate in front of the at 11840 S. Route 59.

Stratton said they received the call Monday from a CVS customer, who saw a duck nesting along the side of Route 59 and went to investigate, Stratton said. As she got closer, she could hear chirping, and -- lo-and-behold -- there sat nine days-old ducklings on a ledge about 3.5 feet below, he said.

She called for help, and the fire department and a community service officer arrived, armed with nets.

It didn't take much to get the duck family on their way again, freeing them from their temporary prison and helping them cross Route 59 en route to the pond behind the , Stratton said.

"It was the prettiest thing you've ever seen," he said. "It (was) just nice to see all 11 of them (the mother and father ducks included) swimming around."