Missoula Fire Department Rescues Parachutist From 100-Foot Tree
According to a press release, just before 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, the Missoula City Fire Department responded to rescue a parachutist who had crashed into a 100-foot Ponderosa Pine tree on Cinnabar Drive near University Villages and the University of Montana Golf Course.
Three fire engines, a tower ladder, and a battalion chief, along with personnel from the University of Montana Police Department and a Missoula Emergency Services ambulance were dispatched to the scene.
When first responders arrived at the scene, they found a parachutist trapped between 60 and 70 up in the Ponderosa Pine tree. Utilizing the tower ladder, firefighters used a chain saw to cut branches away in order to gain access to the injured parachutist, who reportedly was ‘traumatically injured’ in the incident. The victim was very carefully removed from the parachute harness in the tree and lowered to the ground.
The victim was then transported to a nearby hospital via ambulance and was reported to be in stable condition.
Firefighters remained at the scene and removed the parachute itself from the tree and it was returned to the parachutist.
A press release from the Missoula Fire Department stated that there were no injuries to responding firefighters or any bystanders.
The Missoula Fire Department provided this safety message:
‘Recreating in Montana is at times unpredictable. Have a plan to call for help should an emergency arise.’
Missoula City Fire Department Battalion Chief Bill Bennett provided the following statement:
KGVO News has reached out to the University of Montana Police Department for comments about the rescue and will update this story as more information becomes available.