• Otter Creek SAR - 2008
Paul Duer said:
Deputy Jamey Morgan and eight of us from SAR responded to the Otter Creek area near Little Bald Mountain Saturday night and Sunday morning, June 21-22, 2008, on an AOA call for Georgetown Fire (Assist Other Agency).
We were there to support a medical response for a woman who had broken her leg while rock-hopping along the bottom of Otter Creek. Because of the terrain it would have been difficult to impossible to carry the woman out, so Georgetown firefighters elected to wait with the woman and her companion until daylight when a CHP helicopter could hoist her out. Georgetown Fire asked EDSO for assistance in getting food, water, and other supplies to a total of six people at the bottom of the canyon. Jamey was able to contact eight of us including four people from BSA Troop 1065. We took both rescue vehicles.
After a rendezvous at the Georgetown Fire Department for supplies we convoyed to a remote area near Little Bald Mountain. From there six of us hiked approximately one mile and 1000 vertical feet down to the scene. The trail, which firefighters called a "goat path", was steep, narrow and obstructed in spots. It was also the habitat of a skunk which was as alarmed as we were, though the situation was resolved peacefully. We started down at approximately 1:45 a.m., reached the injured subject about 2:15 a.m. and returned to the vehicles again about 3:45 a.m.
The mission was complicated by a wildland fire nearby, the Otter Fire. At times we could see a bit of open flame above us across the canyon. Though we were constantly vigilant, the spots we saw were small, not very active, and not at all threatening. Winds were calm.
We later heard over the radio that CHP helicopter H20 arrived about 6:00 a.m. and successfully long-lined the woman out.
P.S. For the record, our starting point was N38* 57.383' W120* 49.336' (WGS84). The injured woman and the firefighters were alongside Otter Creek where it crosses elevation 1300'. Door to door, this mission lasted from about 9:30 p.m. Saturday night to 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
Dave McCracken said:
Well, I was parked at the base of the hill on a road narrower then Rescue 3 awaiting the return of the crew when the team called and said the fire is above and behind you. This not a good feeling knowing a wild land fire was so close to us. When the guys came up we got out fast.
We can now say R3 has some battle wounds and scratches. This was a first for all of us. Great job!
Linda Curran said:
And the REST of the story: H-24 hoisted her out around 8:30 a.m. to the staging area where she went via private vehicle transport to her residence. Several hours passed and then she requested a medic unit. Bad timing again. Georgetown's medic was committed to a call so next in line was M25 all the way from Placerville.
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