TICONDEROGA -- A young woman taking pictures at Ticonderoga's Lower LaChute Falls had to be rescued Wednesday after she found herself trapped amid rising water.

Ticonderoga Fire Chief Jeffrey Burns said the Long Lake woman, whose name was not released, climbed out onto rocks at the falls taking photos when the water was low.

While she was out there, at about 4:30 p.m., gates were opened for a water release for the LaChute Hydro plant located in nearby Bicentennial Park.

"She got trapped on the rocks and the water was rising rapidly," Burns said. "We laid ladders across the rocks and pulled her across. We got her on shore."

He said they first had her put on a life preserver, and a Fire Department rescue boat was put in the water at the bottom of the falls in case she slipped and went over.

"She was OK. The water was rising a foot in 10 minutes. The falls are very dangerous."

The woman told them she was taking photos to familiarize herself with the setting for a wedding she will be photographing later this summer in Ticonderoga.

Burns said firefighters have had problems with people, especially youths, climbing out onto the falls and getting trapped by rising water.

"We're very lucky no one has gotten hurt. This has been a problem with kids getting on the rocks."

He urged everyone to stay off the falls.

Essex County Emergency Services Director Raymond Thatcher said if people don't stay off the falls he's concerned someone will be seriously injured or killed.

"It puts them in harm's way and the emergency responders in harm's way."

lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com