An ice jam on the Allegheny River caused a backflow of water and ice to flood this Parker home Sunday. Firefighters used a boat to retrieve a stranded couple and their dog from the house.

PARKER — Firefighters early Sunday morning rescued a couple stranded by flooding from the Allegheny River.

Parker Fire Chief Rick Amsler said an ice jam on the river caused a backflow of water and ice that surrounded the house, which is on an access road off Route 268.

“The house was isolated,” he said.

Amsler said the Allegheny County couple, whose names were unavailable, used the house as a vacation home. The husband spotted the rising water around 3 a.m.

“The water level was at his doorstep,” Amsler said.

Using their pickup wasn't an option.

“Their vehicle was destroyed with ice,” he said.

The department used its boat to retrieve the couple and their dog.

Amsler said the couple, which has used that home for 18 years, never saw the water level reach that point.

Although Amsler has seen the river get that high, the amount of ice was a first for him.

He said problems along the river began in Foxburg around 9 a.m. Saturday. By noon, the water was rising in Parker.

The Parker City Volunteer Fire Company was assisted by the Emlenton and the Bruin volunteer fire departments.

Along with the access road, Route 268 was flooded.

Amsler said this morning the river was starting to drop below the flood stage. He expects the highway to reopen sometime today.

Since Friday, Parker firefighters responded to nine calls, some of which were due to the flooding.