By Mary O’KEEFE

A 16-year-old boy fell into the wash that runs through Crescenta Valley Park on Sunday.

“He fell in at the north of the park [near Dunsmore Avenue] and got swept down to the bottom end of the park,” said Capt. Stuart Stefani of the Glendale Fire Department.

The boy was apparently attempting to retrieve a basketball when he fell in. The water was deep enough, less than two feet of water, and fast enough to take him off his feet.

“The boy tumbled and slid for about a half a mile before he was able to self extricate from the wash,” Stefani said. “It doesn’t take a lot of water to knock you off your feet.”

Fire rescue unit 29 assessed the boy and found he had several abrasions and bruises.  He refused transport and was left with an adult.

Stefani said the department had not had any other swift water rescues in the Crescenta Valley area but had responded to support Los Angeles Fire Department on Wednesday as they searched for possible victims.

The LAFD had been contacted about people who had been swept away in the area of White Oak Avenue and Coldwater Canyon.

“Glendale and Burbank [fire departments] set up to help search the L.A. River in their areas,” Stefani said. “But we didn’t find anyone.”

  boy falls, CV Wash