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Medical Emergency - September 2, 2004 |
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Medical Emergency - September 2, 2004 |
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September 2, 20041420 hrs (file photo) This was a very dark day. I was at work and about to go into several meetings when my cell phone rang. It was a call from Stan at the Forest Service Office and he advised me that our Fire Lookout Jim, had just called dispatch for a medical emergency, for himself. Sheriff Copter Air 5 had heard the call and was in the air before the official dispatch and was over Vetter Mountain in a few minutes. There was no place to land on the summit so the crew repelled down to rescue Jim. |
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1440 hrs
As I was driving up Highway 2, I got another call from Stan and he indicated that Air 5 was transporting Jim to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. Stan also told me the nature of the medical emergency... Jim was shot by an archer's hunting arrow in the chest above his heart! This ambulance was coming down the hill, but Jim was being transported by Air 5 much quicker than the ambulance could ever do. |
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From the Highway 2 overlook I could see a helecopter and a Forest Service Fire Engine near the tower. |
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Because of the nature of the emergency... I took pictures of every car that I passed, parked or driving. |
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The main gate was open and I started up the lookout road. I passed two fire engines coming down the road and this one pulled off to the side to let me pass. |
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About a mile up the road I had to stop while these officers exchanged information. I passed several Sheriff cars with officers in them. After a few moments they pulled aside and let me pass. |
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I had to park down by the garage because the summit was packed with emergency
vehicles. County Sheriff cars, trucks, County Fire Engines and Forest
Service Engines and Trucks.
I was happy to see Patrol 16's truck there because I knew Chris would be around. |
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I made my way up to the lookout tower where Forest Service and Sheriff Officers where exchanging information. |
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Looking down towards the water tank. |
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I found Chris on the far side of the lookout tower where he was relaying information to the Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers (LEO). |
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The tiles on the restroom where blown off due to the Rescue Air 5 downwash. These tiles were later replaced by the volunteers of our organization. |
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A Los Angeles County Sheriff copter made several passes around the tower looking down the trails for the suspect archer. |
WARNING-- Graphic and disturbing photograph: |
I have made this picture a separate click because it is disturbing. It is the blood soaked shirt that Jim was wearing when he was shot by the arrow. There were many disturbing images of blood around the lookout. I put on some rubber gloves, got the wash bucket and cleaned the entire lookout and walkway. |
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After everything was cleaned up I gathered all of Jim's gear and fixed up the lookout so that Chris and I could close it down for the day. We also secured Jim's car so his family could retrieve it later. |
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This was the spot where Jim was sitting when he was hit by the Arrow.
The arrow was a lobbed shot. This is what is known as Clout Archery.
Clout archery is derived from medieval warfare where archers would lob arrows onto the advancing army. A target measuring 15 metres is diameter is marked on the ground, with a triangular marker flag placed at its center. The archer's task is to lob arrows into this ground-target from distances up to 180 metres (590 feet). It is also used when hunting prey, but it is a long-shot that only an expert archer can pull off. Archery season does not start until next week. A Sheriff deputy said that if it was an accident... the archer would be in more trouble. |
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Chris helped me put down the shutters and help secure the lookout. I could have done it by myself, but it was nice having someone there just in case. |
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As we were closing down, a Channel 9 news copter flew by to get some
news shots. Not wanting to be on Television both Chris and I walked
around the walkway avoiding the powerful close up lens, however watching
the news later that night they did get a far shot of us walking around the
lookout.
Meanwhile at the hospital, the news people wanted to talk with Jim, but Jim was concerned that this incident would have a negitive impact upon our program so he did not allow the news agencies to use his name. He also denied any interviews. |
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Chris carried the Osborne to my truck as we finished securing the lookout
tower.
Volunteers coprise 73% of firefighters in the United States. There are 1,096,250 firefighters in the USA and of that number 800,500 are volunteers. Volunteers have contruted an estimated $37.2 billion dollars per year, and save many lives by doing their jobs. There are volunteers in all walks of life, and we all face dangers at all levels. We know this when we sign up to be a volunteer and we do so willing. There are volunteers for the Red Cross that go into disaster zones. There are volunteers for the United Nations that go into war zones. We understand the risks, but do our job as safely as possible. |
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After I drive off the mountain I go directly to the hospital to visit
Jim. I just missed other Forest Service visitors that were concerned
for him. Jim was in good spirits but a bit ticked off that he was attacked
in such a cold way.
There was a scar on his cheek that was in direct line to where he was hit in the chest from the falling arrow. Jim was very lucky because the arrow missed his head and his heart by millimeters. The arrow landed in fleshy tissue just above the heart and the doctors were able to remove and repair the wound without any major issues. With the help of the Sheriff Air 5 getting to him so quickly, and then transported to the hospital even quicker, Jim was saved by our comrades. |
