NORTHAMPTON — The city’s firefighters rescued an injured hiker in the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area on Friday afternoon.
Northampton first responders arrived at the 911-acre preserve at approximately 11 a.m., after receiving a report that a hiker had sustained an injury and was unable to hike out of the wooded area. The hiker was roughly one mile into the woods and four members of the rescue team boarded an all-terrain vehicle equipped with a trailer and drove into the woods. One of the major challenges with rescues in the conservation area is access, according to Deputy Fire Chief Michael Hatch.
“Distance and weather are always a challenge in that area,” Hatch said. “You can’t just drive into the woods with anything other than an ATV.”
Once first responders found the hiker, advanced life support measures were initiated and the patient was secured for transport out of the woods with the ATV. The hiker was then transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield for additional care.
No additional information on the hiker’s identity or condition was immediately available from the Northampton Fire Department.
Hatch said the department has responded to several calls in the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. He estimated that firefighters respond to at least five each year.
Last February, emergency workers carried out an injured cross-country skier that was located about 1.5 miles inside the conservation area.
“We always recommend that people have a plan if they are planning on going out (in the area) alone and have a means to call for help,” said Hatch.
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.
