Ski Patrol and local fire departments rescue dozens of skiers after chair lift malfunction
A ski lift malfunction at Lutsen Mountain left several dozen skiers stranded, suspended above the ski hill on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Midwest Family Ski Resorts Chief Legal Officer Molly Hicken told WTIP that after the Raptor Express chair lift passed the routine daily inspections, it completed at least three complete rotations before a mechanical failure caused the chair lift to stop, with 44 skiers on board.
Hicken said that there was a single injury as a result of the mechanical failure and that it was not life-threatening. She added that 10 passengers were able to self-evacuate, and Lutsen Ski Patrol led the evacuation for the remaining 34 skiers.
The Lutsen Volunteer Fire Department was called to Lutsen Mountains to help address the unusual emergency. Fire Chief Steve Duclos told WTIP that Lutsen Fire, along with the Tofte Volunteer Fire Department, provided mutual aid to the Lutsen Ski Patrol during the rescue. He said that while Ski Patrol was able to rescue most of the passengers, with the aid of the Tofte ladder truck, the firefighters were able to help all of the remaining skiers down out of the lift without incident.
Hicken said the use of the ladder truck helped complete the evacuation as weather conditions grew worse. “Evacuation using a rope launcher to hoist rescuers became difficult as temperatures dropped and wind gusts increased in frequency and strength throughout the day,” she said. “In general, high winds and cold made everything more difficult for the rescuers.”
Duclos said that this was his first chair lift rescue call in 20 years with Lutsen Fire, though he couldn’t be sure that it was the first one ever for the department. He said that typically calls to the ski hill for Lutsen Fire are relatively rare, and that usually Ski Patrol is able to address any incidents that arise without additional assistance.
Though the Lutsen and Tofte fire departments may have been called in to help finish the rescue, Duclos made it clear that the bulk of the operation was conducted by Lutsen Ski Patrol. He said, “They did an outstanding job, and conditions weren’t ideal.”
From the time that the mechanical failure happened until the last passengers were evacuated, Hicken said that three and a half hours elapsed.
“This is what lift operators, snowmakers, and patrol train for,” Hicken said. “While we would prefer they didn’t have the opportunity to put their training into action in a real-life event, we are extremely grateful for the time, skill, and energy they contribute to getting our guests safely to the ground when infrastructure fails.”
According to Hicken, the Raptor Express is temporarily closed while the Lutsen Mountain lift mechanics wait for parts to arrive to repair the lift, but she said they estimate that it will be back in service by this coming weekend. Until the repairs are made, skiers are still able to access the ski hill via the Bridge Lift.
Kirsten Wisniewski January 20, 2026
