Update as of 10:35 a.m. on July 21
After about 4 hours of searching overnight, emergency officials have called off the operation.
Stratford Assistant Fire Chief Lance Edwards said the decision was made after authorities from town and Milford and the U..S Coast Guard conducted an intense search on land, water and in air. The fact that no one has called to report a fisherman or anyone else missing since the initial call also played a role in the decision, Edwards said.
He said units are ready to relaunch the search if new information comes to light, but until then they are on standby.
Last night, a resident of Tides Harbor on the Housatonic River, reported to Patch that a helicopter was flying around the area and that boats with lights were searching the water. The initial call came in that a person was missing from Short Beach, but the search was expanded to include the river and nearby areas.
Update as of 11:35 p.m. on July 20
Stratford Fire reports at about 11:15 p.m. that the West Shore Fire Department, Milford police and fire and Stratford police are all assisting with the search in addition to original units.
The original report follows
are assisting the United States Coast Guard in a search for a missing person off of Short Beach, according to a post on the fire department's Facebook page.
Stratford engine companies are searching on land while Marine 1 checks the water. A Coast Guard helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft in the area are searching as well as numerous Coast Guard boats, the post states.
Stratford Patch will provide updates as more information becomes available.
