ST. GEORGE — A hiker was a quarter of a mile beyond the Kinney Woods Road trailhead in St. George when she hurt her ankle, enough of a distance to require calling 911 for help. Volunteer firefighters responded, carrying the woman from the St. George Town Forest to a waiting ambulance.

Though the weather was decent on Sunday, Oct. 6, the carry-out still took time and effort. 

“Luckily, she was pretty close to the trailhead,” said Smith.

The Forest has a couple miles of walking trails, according to Fire Chief Michael N. Smith. St. George has, over the past several years, created footpaths through the town in collaboration with George's River Land Trust and Maine Coast Heritage Trust. 

Six members of the fire department carried the woman in a Stokes Basket belonging to the firehouse and transported to the scene in one of the department’s utility vehicles. Two other people carried other equipment from the injured woman’s location.

Once at the trailhead, the woman was transported to a local hospital by the St. George EMT and paramedic who also assisted in the carryout.

St. George FD owns more than one Stokes Basket, but makes use of one in particular for those times, once every year or two, when they are called for a trailside lift assist. The basket can also be towed on the ground as well as floated in the water. St. George, however, has yet to use the Stokes in a water recovery, according to Smith.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com