With California wildfires increasing in frequency and intensity, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District has added a second staffed helicopter to beef up its emergency rescue and firefighting capability.
The second chopper, put into service without fanfare in March, was acquired through a partnership with REACH Air Medical Services, a company providing medical air transport in many parts of the western United States.
“This is a huge enhancement to the county for fire season,” Deputy Chief Aaron McAlister said.
In the past, it would have been highly unusual for a suburban district to operate two medical helicopters, but the frequency and ferocity of Northern California wildfires in recent years has changed all of that.
Contra Costa County firefighters who worked the devastating 2017 North Bay wildfires returned home agreeing that they had never witnessed such ferocious, unpredictable fire activity, especially because the conflagration was not confined to forested rural areas, but instead invaded heavily populated areas near grasslands.
Particularly at risk in Contra Costa County would be hard-to-access spots in Lafayette and the Mt. Diablo area.
“Each aircraft is virtually a flying emergency room,” district spokesman Steve Hill said.
Under the terms of a five-year partnership agreement, REACH provides the helicopters and the flight team members, including a pilot and nurse, and it reimburses the district for each paramedic-captain placed on the choppers. The company also pays the district for program administration.
In return, the company bills and collects payments from air transport patients.
While both district helicopters are used for air ambulance missions and transfers of critical patients between hospitals, the most recent addition also provides hoist rescue and aerial firefighting capabilities.
12 comments
Very important. We have so many emergencies here.
Excellent! These guys are amazing! THANK YOU ALL!
Does AMR staff the ambulances they contract out to CCFPD?
They can shut down Fire Stations but can afford a 2nd Helicopter ? Waste full spending
Gebertx-
Did you read the terms of the agreement.
Until you need it…cheers
Only on election years.
These basically replaced the former REACH and CalStar helicopters. But now with added capabilities of rescue hoisting and water drops for fires (and ConFire branding). AMR, REACH and CalStar are owned by the same group. So it makes sense since 1) copters are based at Buchanan 2) AMR is the contracted ambulance company for ConFire (outside of Moraga Orinda and San Ramon) . So for the “what a waste” I’d suggest riding before commenting-REACH supplies the aircraft, pilot, and flight nurse. ConFire assigns a Paramedic/Captain which they bill REACH for. Once they receive flight approval for fires it’ll be an added benefit for the county and region.
Whoops typo meant Reading and not riding…
Where do we get to look at the contract? I would believe that the contract means big money for REACH. Are there any limitations on the amounts that they can charge for this service? Although the idea of a quicker trip to the hospital sounds great, who decides that it is really necessary for a flight vs an ambulance? More than 10 years ago, the cost for a flight was around $25,000.00; what is it now? Who will be paying the bills if someone is uninsured? How many of us have health insurance that will pay this cost? If your insurance doesn’t pay, can you be taken to court and have your house liened for payment? Just asking.
@Susan. I share your concerns. If these helicopters are so vital for emergency rescues, and I would agree that they are, then I think they should be funded wholly and solely with taxpayer dollars. It is already engrained in our culture that if you are physically able, you drive yourself to the emergency room. An ambulance ride can ruin you. I’m going to guess that unless you have an extra 25-100K laying around and you break your ankle in Briones, your life is over.
AMR is not going to maintain two helicopters and flight crews for free. They are going to target revenue sources. They are not a public safety agency, they are a private company. I think this is a conflicted arrangement.
@Old Fart. That’s socialism.
Re: “If these helicopters are so vital for emergency rescues, and I would agree that they are, then I think they should be funded wholly and solely with taxpayer dollars. “
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