On October 8th, 2026, at 0742 hrs, the FMFD was alerted to a hunting accident in the 7000 block of Gearhiser Rd where the hunter had fallen and was stuck in a tree. C630, Engine 611 and Medic 603 responded and found the hunter approximately 1/2 mile off the road and about 10 feet in the tree upside down. A portion of his tree stand had failed and he was entrapped in the system.
Recently with rewarded grant money, the FMFD had updated our rope rescue equipment and with this new equipment our firefighters were able to rig a hoist and successfully freed the hunter from the tree. He was then removed from the woods and transported to a local hospital for his injuries.
FMFD received mutual aid from Elm Valley (Ashley), Delaware County Medic 5 and Tri-Township Fire Department for their ATV.
