Firefighters locate 3 lost hikers in Paint Creek State Park

Three out-of-state hikers who became disoriented and lost while exploring a trail on Paint Creek State Park Tuesday evening were found and removed from the woods without injury.

The Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District was dispatched to the area at approximately 5:49 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to Chief Bradley George, approximately 20 firefighters from his department, as well as the Highland County North Joint Fire and Ambulance District out of Leesburg responded to the area.

The hikers had called 911 and told the dispatcher the general area they were in, but they were nearly out of battery power in their phone.

"We entered the trail off of Taylor Road off the campgrounds," George said. "The (Ohio) Department of Natural Resources (which has jurisdiction over state parks) didn't know if they were on the north or south side of the trail, so we divided into two groups."

The park is located in Paint Township in Ross County. 

The two adults and one child were located within 20-25 minutes, according to George. 

Once the two search parties entered the trails, the hikers were quickly located on the north trail and brought out of the woods, "without medical incident," according to George.

The Greenfield Police Department had been en route with a K9 unit to assist in the search, but was called off after the hikers were located.

George said he believed the hikers were from Nebraska.

As soon as they were out of the woods, the hikers left the park area, George said.