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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;"> 201 Orr Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">March 31, 2026</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Skyler Clark
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />Columbia Fire Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7609
<br />Skyler.Clark@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia Fire Department rescues subject from Capen Park cliff, March 31</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display: inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Tuesday, March 31, at 3:40 p.m., Columbia Fire Department (CFD) companies were dispatched to a fall on a Capen Park trail. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the initial company was en route to the incident scene, dispatch information was updated to show that the individual had fallen approximately 30 feet off a cliff edge after the rocks gave way. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Due to this new information, the initial crew upgraded the response to a technical rescue, dispatching an additional five companies and specialized technical rescue personnel and equipment.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first CFD company arrived within seven minutes and immediately began operations to search for the subject. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Firefighters conducted searches of the trail using information received from Boone County Joint Communications (BCJC), which they were able to provide using the caller's GPS location that had been pinged during the 911 call. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The individual was located within approximately 10 minutes and was found conscious, breathing and alert. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additional companies made their way to the subject's location with specialized technical rescue equipment, including chainsaws to cut a clear path for equipment and ropes, which were used to create a high-angle rescue rigging system so that responders could safely descend to the individual. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once the rope system was safely set up and secured, two rescuers descended approximately 30 feet to make patient contact. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once patient contact was made, firefighters assessed the subject for injuries and worked to remove them from the cliffside. Once the individual was safely lowered to the ground at approximately 4:53, CFD and University of Missouri Health Care personnel removed them from the park using a utility vehicle (UTV) for off-road patient transport and was then transferred to an awaiting ambulance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Four chiefs, one safety captain and six companies, comprising 26 personnel, responded to the scene.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFD reminds residents to practice caution while enjoying Columbia's parks and trails:</span></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Be cautious when nearing a cliff edge, as rocks may not be as stable as they seem</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise care when walking or hiking on uneven terrain</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wear a helmet when biking</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let someone you trust know where you are going and when you plan to return</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bring a phone and be sure to share your location with a family member or friend</span></li>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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