Global Medical Response Mobilizes Crews, Ground and Air Assets in Response to California Wildfires
8.23.2020
Teams from AMR and REACH are assisting with Evacuation Efforts, Fire Line Medical Aid, and Patient Transfers.
(NAPA, Calif.) — Global Medical Response (GMR) has mobilized dozens of paramedics, EMTs, flight crews, ambulances, specially equipped 4x4 units, and medical aircraft from its American Medical Response (AMR) and REACH Air Medical Services (REACH) operations in Sonoma, Napa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Contra Costa, Stanislaus, San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. This is in response to the LNU, SCU, and CZU Lightning Complex Fires burning across northern California. GMR also continues to coordinate evacuation efforts and bed placement for patients in the five counties through its Emergency Command and Transfer Center.
"We are monitoring the fire activity very closely and are coordinating with local and state agencies to allocate needed resources to help in the affected areas," said Sean Russell, President for Global Medical Response, Pacific Region. "The information provided by CAL FIRE indicates that it may be days before their heroic efforts result in progress toward containment for many of these fires, which means potential for unthinkable damage to our communities with hundreds of thousands of people affected. Thankfully, our teams are trained and prepared to respond to catastrophic events such as this. Our national scope allows us to quickly secure personnel, vehicles, aircraft, and other necessary supplies." He added that GMR operations from as far as San Diego and Brookings, Ore., have also sent paramedics, EMTs, and ambulances to assist with medical support.
In addition to responding to increased call volume related to the fires, GMR teams from AMR and REACH are also helping with hospital evacuations, medical aid at evacuation shelters, and fire line support to CAL FIRE personnel. Teams from AMR's Napa and Santa Cruz operations are specially trained by CAL FIRE and are equipped with 4x4 ambulance vehicles that allow them to provide aid on the fire line. Medical aircraft from GMR's REACH, and Contra Costa County Fire Air operations are also supporting critical patient transports and evacuation efforts from area hospitals.
JohnRey Hassan, Regional Director for Global Medical Response, expressed immense concern for the communities impacted. “AMR and REACH are honored to serve and support evacuations and fire line personnel in Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Stanislaus Counties. Our caregivers came together at a moment's notice to help meet our communities' needs during this challenging time, and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment and dedication. Earlier this week, teams from AMR, REACH and Contra Costa County Fire Air Operations, and other regional EMS providers helped move patients from Adventist Health St. Helena to safer facilities out of the path of the fire. Simultaneously AMR supported CAL FIRE with standby paramedic resources and continued providing uninterrupted 911 service.”
Teams from AMR Napa, Sonoma Life Support, AMR Santa Cruz County, AMR Monterey County, AMR San Francisco, AMR San Mateo, AMR San Diego, AMR Stanislaus County, AMR Santa Clara County, Cal-Ore Lifeflight, REACH Air Medical Services, CALSTAR Air Medical Services and Contra Costa County Fire Air operations will continue to support disaster response efforts as long as needed and will continue to mobilize to communities in critical need over the coming weeks.
"We are monitoring the fire activity very closely and are coordinating with local and state agencies to allocate needed resources to help in the affected areas," said Sean Russell, President for Global Medical Response, Pacific Region. "The information provided by CAL FIRE indicates that it may be days before their heroic efforts result in progress toward containment for many of these fires, which means potential for unthinkable damage to our communities with hundreds of thousands of people affected. Thankfully, our teams are trained and prepared to respond to catastrophic events such as this. Our national scope allows us to quickly secure personnel, vehicles, aircraft, and other necessary supplies." He added that GMR operations from as far as San Diego and Brookings, Ore., have also sent paramedics, EMTs, and ambulances to assist with medical support.
In addition to responding to increased call volume related to the fires, GMR teams from AMR and REACH are also helping with hospital evacuations, medical aid at evacuation shelters, and fire line support to CAL FIRE personnel. Teams from AMR's Napa and Santa Cruz operations are specially trained by CAL FIRE and are equipped with 4x4 ambulance vehicles that allow them to provide aid on the fire line. Medical aircraft from GMR's REACH, and Contra Costa County Fire Air operations are also supporting critical patient transports and evacuation efforts from area hospitals.
JohnRey Hassan, Regional Director for Global Medical Response, expressed immense concern for the communities impacted. “AMR and REACH are honored to serve and support evacuations and fire line personnel in Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Stanislaus Counties. Our caregivers came together at a moment's notice to help meet our communities' needs during this challenging time, and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment and dedication. Earlier this week, teams from AMR, REACH and Contra Costa County Fire Air Operations, and other regional EMS providers helped move patients from Adventist Health St. Helena to safer facilities out of the path of the fire. Simultaneously AMR supported CAL FIRE with standby paramedic resources and continued providing uninterrupted 911 service.”
Teams from AMR Napa, Sonoma Life Support, AMR Santa Cruz County, AMR Monterey County, AMR San Francisco, AMR San Mateo, AMR San Diego, AMR Stanislaus County, AMR Santa Clara County, Cal-Ore Lifeflight, REACH Air Medical Services, CALSTAR Air Medical Services and Contra Costa County Fire Air operations will continue to support disaster response efforts as long as needed and will continue to mobilize to communities in critical need over the coming weeks.