NORWALK — Passengers of a sailboat returning to Norwalk Harbor were rescued by firefighters Thursday night after a storm line with heavy rains and high winds barreled through the area.

Intense winds from the squall about 7 p.m. tore the sail of the 30-foot vessel, Deputy Fire Chief Edward Prescott said. The boat, which has heading in using the east channel, ran aground off Grassy Island.

The Fire Department’s Marine Division responded and took aboard two female passengers and two dogs. Two males from the sailboat stayed on Grassy Island, intending to refloat the vessel after the tide turned. Low tide, Prescott said, was at 8:45 p.m.

Prescott said the two had battery power for their radio, and a working cell phone, to maintain communication with firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard.