Topsham firefighters rescued two teens Saturday who became stranded on an Androscoggin River island near the Swinging Bridge after dams opened upriver dramatically raised water levels.

The Topsham Fire Department’s rescue boat was launched at the canoe portage off Mill Street in Brunswick. Rescuers fought fastmoving water to reach the back side of the island where the two teens got into the boat.

The island is about 15 feet from shore, but the river was running very hard between the island and shore at around 5 p.m. when public safety officials were called.

The two teens — both aged 17 — said after their rescue that the water was initially calm when they waded into waste-high water.

However, officials said dams opened in Lewiston and then in Lisbon, making for higher, harder running currents and leaving the two stranded only feet from shore.

Both rescued teens said they wanted what happened to them to be a warning to others.

“I don’t want anyone doing that,” said the girl, standing next to her mother near the entrance of the Swinging Bridge. “Swimming in the river is very stupid.”

The current is “really fast and strong and it’s easy for someone to get killed,” she added.

Once the two realized they were stranded, she said she began waving to passers-by on the Swinging Bridge.

At first no one saw her or thought she was just waving hello, but finally she caught the attention of a bicyclist who went to see if they were OK, and called for help.