Berkeley Heights Emergency Responders Rescue Injured Hiker

These release was received from the Berkeley Heights Fire Department.

At 1 pm on Feb. 22, the Berkeley Heights Dispatch center received a 911 call for a woman who had fallen and sustained an ankle injury while hiking in the Watchung Reservation.

The woman was located by Berkeley Heights Police and Rescue Squad members on the south side of Blue Brook just over the border in Scotch Plains.

Due to the difficult terrain and icy conditions the Berkeley Heights Fire Dept Technical Rescue Team was requested to the scene.

Berkeley Heights Fire Dept Rescue 1 and Squad 1 responded to the scene. Lt Tom English was the Rescue officer. After he evaluated the situation he determined the safest and most effective way to get the injured victim to the ambulance was to utilize a stokes basket with ropes to lower her down the river bank which was covered with ice.

Deputy Chief Chris Schulze who was the Incident Commander recognized the fact that this was going to be a manpower intensive rescue and requested mutual aid from New Providence and Stirling Fire to assist.

The victim was carried up to Cataract Hollow Road (The Deserted Village) to a waiting New Providence EMS Ambulance. The rescue took about 35 minutes to complete.

While the rescue was in progress Union County Fire Mutual Aid provided a Ladder Truck from Springfield and Engine’s from Plainfield and Summit to cover the Township in the event of another emergency.