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Great Barrington Fire Department Rescues Hiker on Monument Mountain Reservation

GREAT BARRINGTON — Chief Charles Burger reports that the Great Barrington Fire Department responded yesterday to Monument Mountain Reservation to rescue a hiker who suffered a medical emergency and could not get down on his own.

Great Barrington Fire Department
Chief Charles Burger
37 State Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230

For Immediate Release

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Great Barrington Fire Department Rescues Hiker on Monument Mountain Reservation

GREAT BARRINGTON — Chief Charles Burger reports that the Great Barrington Fire Department responded yesterday to Monument Mountain Reservation to rescue a hiker who suffered a medical emergency and could not get down on his own.

Firefighters rig a rope system to rescue the hiker. (Courtesy Photo Great Barrington Fire Department)

On Wednesday, July 12, shortly before noon, the Great Barrington Fire Department, along with Southern Berkshire Ambulance, responded to Monument Mountain Reservation on a report of an ill 71-year-old man at the summit.

Upon arrival, first responders learned that the elderly man, who was hiking with his son, collapsed after suffering from severe dehydration at the top of the Squaw Peak Trail.

Great Barrington firefighters, using their Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), and the department’s Rope Rescue Team ascended the mountain to reach the man. The Egremont Fire Department and the Western Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team also responded to provide additional rope rescue technicians, and the Sheffield Fire Department responded with additional UTVs. The Monterey Fire Department stood by to cover additional calls in Great Barrington during the incident.

Crews reached the hiker within 45 minutes. The man was treated by medics and stabilized. Due to his location on the mountain, he had to be carried across boulders and lowered down steep embankments using rope systems before reaching an area of the trail accessible to UTVs, which were used to bring him down the rest of the way.

Firefighters reached the bottom of the mountain by 2:30 p.m. The man was transported via ambulance to an area hospital in stable condition. All rescue crews cleared the scene by 3 p.m.

“This incident was a good interagency operation between fire departments, the tech team and Southern Berkshire medics who provided exceptional care,” Chief Burger said. “It’s always a good day when we have a successful outcome.”

Since the Great Barrington Fire Department identified mountain rescue as one of the primary ways it can serve the community, firefighters have spent thousands of man hours training in rope rescue and finished 250 hours of refresher training on Monday. Firefighters also raised funds to purchase the UTV for the department.

To prevent injury and illness while on Monument Mountain Reservation, Chief Burger recommends that residents follow several important safety tips:

  • Dress appropriately. Footwear should be comfortable but have ankle support, particularly when hiking steep and uneven terrain.
  • Hydrate, particularly in hot, humid weather. Since it takes several hours for your body to absorb water you need to hydrate prior to exertion and continue to hydrate while hiking.
  • Pick an appropriate trail for your experience level and physical fitness. That includes both length and difficulty.

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