Dozens Of Firefighters Needed To Rescue Injured Hiker In Kent: Officials

KENT, CT — A hiker, who officials said was overcome by heat while trekking on the Appalachian Trail in Kent, had to be rescued Thursday by dozens of firefighters and emergency personnel, according to Kent fire officials.

In addition to the hiker, three firefighters were also overcome by heat during the rescue, but all are reported to be fine, officials said.

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"We had a difficult trail rescue yesterday involving an injured hiker on the Appalachian Trail," officials wrote on Facebook. "In all, we had 75 rescuers on-site."

Sherman volunteer firefighters were among the emergency personnel at the rescue, and officials from that department discussed its degree of difficulty.

"The terrain combined with the distance that the patient needed to be carried made this a task that would be a challenge for a single department on a cool day," Sherman officials wrote. "Toss in high heat, and it goes from challenging to impossible without the help from mutual aid."

Thursday's incident occurred about a half-mile from the Schaghticoke campsite, the New Haven Register reported. Temperatures were in the 90s during the rescue, which reportedly felt hotter due to high humidity levels.

In addition to Kent, firefighters from the following departments were also involved:

Gaylordsville Volunteer Fire Department, Sherman Volunteer Fire Department, Warren Volunteer Fire Company Inc, Sharon Fire Department Inc. & Sharon Ambulance, Water Witch Hose Co. #2 of New Milford, Roxbury Fire and EMS, Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, Bantam Fire Company, County Coordinator, Northwell Medic 4 and 5, Washington Volunteer Fire Department, J.H. Ketcham Hose Company, Amenia Fire Company, and Empress Medic.

"We sincerely thank you all for your invaluable assistance last night," Kent officials said. "We did have a few rescuers suffer from heat related illness, but all are better now."