Morning snow cover and 9-degree (F)
temperature on the back porch has me thinking about when I returned in August
from my second fire assignment on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (NF):
Little Bridge Creek (LBC) & Carlton Complex. Twisp, Washington is most likely getting snow;
after all it is late December.
My last shift (“operational
period”) assignment on LBC was up on a remote portion of the fire line, with
the Blue Ridge Hotshots (Coconino NF). Our Mission: patrol & mop-up as needed. As a Safety Officer I often get to work
with a wide variety of people & resources. Many of which leave me in
absolute awe of their skill sets. I know that after so many decades (4) of
being around public safety personnel, the dedication and abilities of the men
& women that serve and protect us should be no surprise: but, I’m still
often left with deep gratitude that I get to work alongside some of these
people.
There was a Paramedic, which we’ll
call Simon, assigned on the same Division. I think Simon was extraordinary. To
put that term in context, let’s flash-back to when I first became an incident
Safety Officer in the late 1980’s, or even as “Safety Dude” with a Type I Incident Management Team during the
90’s: our goal then was to get a line qualified Emergency Medical Technician
(EMT) assigned to each division/group for every operational period. As a former Medical Unit Leader, and as an EMT
on the National Register, I knew what a challenge that could be. Now, we often
get line EMT’s + Paramedics (like Nathan Harpster from Phoenix FD Jennifer Reilly from Virginia, or Simon); thanks to individuals & local fire departments making their important skills available, often via private contract companies. It is a vast improvement over yester-year.
Simon is a smokejumper from the
North Cascades. When you think elite-of-the-elite wildland firefighters, you
think smokejumpers… and to think that Simon was also a Paramedic was inspiring,
BUT there is more… he is not just any ol’ “Simple Simon.” He also splits his
year between the Jumpers and being a non-comm. in the U.S. Air Force Reserve
where he plies his skills doing air rescue operations. It is sometimes said of
the USAF Air Rescue personnel: “when the SEAL Teams need help, they (SEALs) call them.” It is somewhat
simplistic, but you get-the-picture…
This particular day, Simon decided
to share some of his knowledge & skills by conducting some training and
practical exercises for Blue Ridge. After “The Shots” had patrolled & gridded
the line in the Division ("no smokes"), Simon instructed them in various SKED (Rescue
Stretcher) packaging, carrying & transport techniques. Due to the
remoteness of many forests, fire crew and engine personnel are first
responders to emergency situations (motor vehicle, rock climbing accidents,
etc.): they expose themselves to danger in order to help. They’ll also be the first to tell you:
“We’re not heroes…we are simply doing our duty, our job…and doing what’s
right…”
As I recall, Simon had planned on
having a 1-2 hour session, but due to their interest he spent 4+ hours with
Blue Ridge on extraction techniques. So, this- my final post of 2014 is a salute
to ALL of you that are doing your duty out there… and what is right (from Group Supervisor Billy Morris [Peoria, AZ] to the BLM Engine [Lander, WY] to Paramedic Nick Cooley [Palmer, AK]… to ALL a big THANK
YOU!!!
