SOUTHINGTON, CT — Southington firefighters used a high-angle rope rescue recently to reach a hiker stranded on a cliff at Ragged Mountain and lower the person about 80 feet to safety.
The Southington Fire Department said crews were dispatched at 6:38 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, for a report of a stranded hiker.
Firefighters established a command post at 150 Carey St. and entered the trail system to search for the hiker. Crews found the person about 30 minutes later.
The hiker was uninjured but stranded on a ledge about 30 feet from the cliff's edge and approximately 80 feet above the ground, according to the department.
Because of the terrain and the hiker's location, firefighters began a high-angle rope rescue.
A firefighter was lowered from the top of the cliff to the hiker, evaluated the person, and secured the hiker to the rescuer.
The firefighter and hiker then rappelled approximately 80 feet to the bottom of the cliff.
Once safely on the ground, the hiker was transferred to a utility terrain vehicle and transported about a mile through the trail system to the command post.
The fire department credited its dispatchers with quickly identifying the hiker's location and remaining on the phone with the person until the rescuer made contact.
Southington police and AMR assisted during the response.
The Cheshire and Plainville fire departments provided station coverage in Southington while local crews handled the Ragged Mountain rescue.
The department said the incident demonstrated the specialized training and technical rescue capabilities required to operate in Southington's challenging terrain.
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