Area fire departments with mountain rescue training and equipment helped local firefighters bring a fallen climber from the bottom of Ragged Mountain’s cliff face to a waiting Life Star helicopter during a rescue over the weekend.
Southington and surrounding fire departments have been responding to mutual aid calls more frequently, according to Southington Fire Chief Richard Butler. For Southington, one of the benefits is the expertise that Meriden and Berlin have in mountain rescues and specialized equipment, such as all-terrain vehicles. “We all depend on each other now,” Butler said.