Several people were injured on Tuesday when a chairlift derailed after gusting winds of up to 40mph swept the ski resort town of Sugarloaf, in Maine. Rescue efforts required firefighters to belay the approximately 150 trapped individuals down from the stranded chairs. When Carrabassett Valley Fire Chief Courtney Knapp heard the tone for a chairlift derailment at Sugarloaf Tuesday, it seemed unreal.

There had just been chairlift-evacuation training on Nov. 7 at Sugarloaf, he said.

Knapp, who served as operations officer Tuesday during the rescue of 150 people from the Spillway East Chairlift, worked along with Sugarloaf’s ski patrol director to supply people and equipment to the scene, he said.

“I have the highest praise for those involved,” he said. “It’s a tribute to the planning and training.”

After spending more than 100 hours helping to plan the November training, Carrabassett firefighter Earl Connor experienced the real thing, helping people with the lift evacuation, he said.

Connor was one of 10 firefighters from Carrabassett, Kingfield and Stratton who helped ski patrol members on the mountain.

NorthStar Ambulance brought in six vehicles with about 20 paramedics and emergency medical technicians to help from their bases in Farmington, Rangeley, Phillips and Livermore Falls, Knapp said.

Full article. Photo by Jack Michaud/Associated Press.

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Tags: derail, ski, ski resort, sugarloaf