Simulated Tree Stand Rescue: Merrimack Fire Prepares for Fall Hunting Emergencies

Merrimack, NH - Firefighters and technical rescue personnel from Merrimack Fire Rescue conducted a specialized high-angle extraction exercise designed to simulate rescuing an incapacitated hunter from an elevated tree stand.

The drill was staged on Friday, September 25, 2026, coinciding with the opening weeks of the regional fall hunting season when calls for injured or trapped hunters often increase.

Staged by the department's B Shift personnel at one of the local fire stations, the exercise focused on extricating an unconscious patient trapped well above the ground without relying on heavy apparatus that cannot traverse backcountry terrain.

Crews relied on core rope-rigging principles, mechanical advantage haul-and-lower systems, and specialized patient packaging to safely lower the victim from the elevated perch to ground level.

Department leadership noted that while the simulation took place in a controlled environment, such emergencies within Hillsborough County frequently occur in dense, remote woodlands where long hike-ins and specialized portable gear are required.

The evolution reinforced dynamic team communication, equipment familiarity, and field adaptability ahead of potential real-world wilderness deployments.