The Portage Department of Public Safety Fire Division recently cited the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority (SKCFA) for assistance in locating a lost hunter in the Gourdneck State Game area in November. “This was an exceptional example of outstanding work and great cooperation between several area agencies,” Daniel Mills, Portage’s acting public safety director, wrote to Chief Tracy McMillan.
South County Fire was called to assist with finding a deer hunter who was lost and stuck in the mud while walking along the north side of Sugar Loaf Lake. South County firefighters responded with two firefighter-owned ATV’s and assisted Portage firefighters in the search. Multiple firefighters were shuttled to and from the search area by the ATV’s through the mud, water and snow, lessening the physical stress on the firefighters. The hunter was found by firefighters and freed from the mud. He was treated and released at a local medical facility later that evening, McMillan said.