Mark Willer, a Baraboo Fire Department lieutenant and EMS rope rescue team manager, peered over the west bluff at Devil’s Lake State Park Monday, watching as firefighter Dave Schrofer descended the cliff face.
A few yards to Willer’s right, other rescue team members along the cliff’s edge called orders back to crews controlling rope mechanisms to safely lower Schrofer down as he hung above a steep drop to forested terrain. Roughly 50 feet below where Willer stood, a fellow Fire & Rescue team member lay on her back waiting to be saved. The cliff rescue scenario was all part of a training exercise organized by the Baraboo Fire Department with help from Baraboo EMS, UW Med Flight and conservation wardens with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
“It was a great collaborative effort; everyone played an important role,” Baraboo Fire Chief Kevin Stieve said.