A call for help mid Tuesday afternoon drew many local resources for a rescue effort in the Lower Paugussett State Forest. Fortunately it ended in a much better note than it could have, after a hiker suffered a medical emergency.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Botsford Fire Rescue, Newtown Hook & Ladder Company #1, Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue (NUSAR) and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps (NVAC) were all dispatched to the area of 326 Great Quarter Road around 2:40 pm July 29 after Newtown Emergency Communications Center received a call for help from the woman in her mid 50s.

Sandy Hook VFR First Assistant Chief Andy Ryan was officer in command of the incident.

“She was off the Blue Trail in the forest and she told dispatchers she felt like she had heat stroke or exhaustion,” Ryan said. Dispatchers were able to send Ryan a photo of a map that showed the hiker’s approximate location, he said.

The Lower Paugussett encompasses approximately 1,200 acres along the western shore of Lake Zoar. The property has nearly 2½ miles of land along the lake. Much of the Blue Trail runs parallel to the shoreline.

The main trailhead for the Lower Paugussett is at the eastern end of Great Quarter Road. First responders initially staged there, and began following the Blue Trail on foot. Once the hiker’s location was determined, however, Ryan activated the marine units from NUSAR and Hook & Ladder due to hiker’s location close to the water, he said.

Boats went in the water from Eichler’s Cove, approximately 1.6 winding miles south of where dispatchers were able to determine the hiker had stopped. The woman told dispatchers she was sitting in the shade.

Her cell phone had less than a 10% charge, Ryan noted, so she was not able to stay on the phone with dispatchers for very long. At one point the hiker told dispatchers she was feeling worse.

Apparatus on Great Ring Road relocated to the Town boat launch on Old Bridge Road, joining other first responders and apparatus already staging there. Ryan also shifted his command post to the waterfront location.

At Ryan’s request, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps responded to the call with two vehicles and crews.

“One ambulance was for the patient, and one was standby for possible responder rehab due to high temperatures,” he said. “We also had a paramedic respond, and they went with NUSAR to find the hiker.”

Record highs were set across the region on Tuesday. The National Weather Service reported a record high temperature of 96 degrees was set in Bridgeport on Tuesday, while Danbury recorded a maximum temperature of 97 degrees.

Newtown details were not available, but the day was well within the latest regional heat wave. The Maximum Heat Index was expected to reach 103-104 degrees within the county, according the weather service.

NUSAR’s boat, with NUSAR team members accompanied by an NVAC crew and the medic, went toward the area opposite Jackson Cove State Park in Oxford to connect with the hiker. Upon their arrival, the hiker was able to walk to the boat.

Hook & Ladder followed with its boat to pick up the first responders who had hiked into the woods.

“All rescuers and the patient returned to the command post at Eichler’s Cove via boat, where the patient was then evaluated,” Andy said. The hiker eventually declined transport to a hospital. There were no injuries to any first responders, who began clearing from Eichler’s Cove just after 4 pm.

Ryan said there was “great work by all” during the response.

“Interagency cooperation is key, and we have good interagency efforts in town,” he added, noting an EnCon officer from CT DEEP also responded.

Ryan offered reminders to anyone who plans to head out on a hike, especially in extreme weather.

“Remember to charge your phone before hiking, and take water and a buddy with you,” he said.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.