A man was pulled to safety from the Spokane River at the base of the Upper Falls Thursday morning, as 21 firefighters responded in kayaks, climbing ropes and medical vehicles. Battalion Chief Craig Cornelius said personnel from five fire stations rushed to the scene when a call came in about “someone swimming” between the river’s two major falls. It took about 45 minutes to pull the man from the water, and initial reports suggest that he was not injured. Lt. Dale Michael, who led the fire department’s technical team, said responders considered putting the man in a kayak but decided against it after speaking with him. Michael said he did not appear to understand what was happening and could only answer questions “a little bit.” Michael’s team lowered ropes from Canada Island, where the man was clinging to rocks, and pulled him up. A medical team evaluated the man between the pedestrian bridges, where police were also on hand to speak with him.