— The three-person flight team, based out of northern Colorado, spotted the fire near Bellvue while flying Friday and reported its location to local authorities.
BELLVUE, COLORADO — a medical helicopter team was in the right place at the right time to spot a wildland fire last week.
A medical helicopter crew spotted and eventually extinguished a wildland fire last week reported 9News.
The three-person flight team, based out of northern Colorado, spotted the fire near Bellvue while flying Friday and reported its location to local authorities. Then they continued their patient transport.
“We were transporting a patient, and [the pilot] said that he saw some smoke up ahead,” explained Guy Beesley, a North Colorado Med Evac flight paramedic. “He maneuvered a little bit so we could see out the left window and we were able to ascertain that we saw some ground fire smoldering.”
After they were done, the team said dispatchers contacted them again, asking the Med Evac crew fly back to the area to confirm the location, so local authorities could respond.
Beesley said the fire was growing when they returned.
“I think initial it started somewhere in the 10 by 10 range, and we were definitely at least 20 by 20 at this point,” he said.
“Once we realized that it was not a controlled burn and there was nobody around it and it had grown, we knew that we had to find some help,” added flight nurse Angela Solomonson. “Because we are not in the business of fighting fires, we are in the business of saving lives.”
Pilot Sam Solomon said the fire was visible from the air for about ten miles. Pictures from a post on Facebook show the team’s view.
They searched for someone on the ground nearby.
“We located a ranch about half a mile away,” Solomon said. “And there were some farm hands working on the ranch and we found a big field and landed there.”
The workers had a truck with water and several tools. As the pilot led them to the fire in the air, Solomonson joined the workers on four-wheelers and followed the helicopter to the correct location.
Once at the fire, the flight crew and the farm workers worked to put the fire out until first responders arrived. The farm workers used the tools, including a weed sprayer filled with water, to douse the flames.
“It’s good to do the right thing,” said Beesley. “Obviously we’re not firefighters. We just did something to contain [the fire] so it didn’t spread more and let those who have the tools and capability to do it.”
The Forestry Service and volunteer firefighters from Rist Canyon Fire Department responded to the fire and finished the job to extinguish it. A spokesperson for the fire department said the fire started after lightning struck a tree and knocked it to the ground.
“It was nice to be able to help and to be a part of that,” nurse Solomonson said. “And I was able to speak with the two [ranch] homeowners and they were very grateful for the help from the helicopter spotting it because they knew it could have gotten out of hand pretty quick.”
“This time of year, you see any type of fire and you’re like — why is there a fire there? And obviously, you go check it out if you can,” added pilot Solomon.
“If you can, you go help the community. And that’s what we did.”
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