Fire crews and police dive teams spent Saturday evening combing the dark water of a wooded Milford quarry after a report of a possible drowning, turning a popular cut-through in the woods into a full-on emergency scene. Responders built a staging area along the trails around Shadowbrook Quarry and ran coordinated underwater search patterns well into the night. As crews remained in the area, officials had not yet released information about any victims or the outcome of the operation.
According to Boston 25 News, multiple departments responded to Shadowbrook Quarry for the water search, including members of the Auburn Fire Department scuba team and the Douglas Fire Department dive team. Milford police confirmed to the outlet that search-and-rescue crews were on scene investigating the reported drowning. Boston 25 also noted that the quarry is tucked into a heavily wooded area, which makes both access and staging that much more complicated for first responders hauling boats, trucks and gear.
Milford Police Remind Public That Quarries Are Hazardous
Just days before the latest incident, Milford police had already been warning residents to stay out of the quarries. In a July 21 press release posted by the Milford Police Department, officials urged people not to use the quarries as swimming holes and stressed, “We continue to strongly discourage anyone from entering the property or swimming in the quarries.”
The release described a July 19 rescue in which officers and paramedics had to climb down to reach an injured person, a case that highlighted how difficult and risky it can be for first responders to access someone in trouble in that terrain.
Why Quarry Recoveries Can Take Time
Quarry recoveries are rarely quick. The bottoms often hide submerged rocks, debris and leftover machinery, and visibility can be extremely poor. Those conditions drive up the risk for divers and slow every step of a recovery effort.
Past incidents have required specialized equipment and long searches. For example, crews used an underwater remotely operated vehicle to locate a body at Becket Quarry in July 2025, as reported by Boston.com.
Regional Dive Teams Bring Heavy Gear to the Water
Regional dive units are built for exactly these kinds of calls. District dive teams arrive with boats, dive trucks and certified public-safety divers who train for year-round water operations, including low-visibility and cold-water work.
The Auburn Fire Rescue District 7 Regional Dive Team lists multiple certified divers and boats that cover more than 140 lakes and ponds in its response area. The Douglas Fire Department notes that it operates dive teams and water-rescue boats as part of its standard capabilities, which is why those crews are often called in when a quarry search escalates.
Officials have asked anyone with information about Saturday’s incident to contact the Milford Police at 508-473-1113. The department had not released further updates as of late Saturday, according to the Milford Police Department website. Local outlets reported that the case remained a developing story and that more details were expected as investigators and rescue teams wrapped up their work at Shadowbrook Quarry.
