Teen girls saved from Carbon River hillside

ORTING, Wash. — Two teen girls were saved after being stranded on a steep hillside Thursday afternoon above the Carbon River in Orting.

Rescuers saved two 15-year-old girls after they waded across the river and attempted to climb a heavily wooded hillside.

The girls became stranded, clinging to the trees and branches.

Rescuers responded to the incident around 1:20 p.m. The girls were safely across the river by 5 p.m.

Both girls were treated on-scene for minor scrapes and bruises before being released to their parents.

Officials were staged above and below the girls -- using ropes to lower them to rescuers at the bottom of the hill.

Once at the bottom of the hill, rescuers transported the girls across the river in rescue boats.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department's Swiftwater Rescue Team and Dive Team, the Orting Police and Fire Departments, and Central Pierce Fire Department responded to the incident.

Rescue members were staged up and down the river -- in case anyone fell into the water.

Officials initially reported that the girls were stranded above the Puyallup River.

Stay with kiro7.com for updates on this developing story.

Cox Media Group