RESCUE REPORT

By Tom Vines

Arizona Firefighters Rescue Couple from Raging Creek

On Feb. 23, quick action by central Arizona responders helped avert disaster for a couple trapped in fast-moving water.

The first call to the Sedona Fire Dispatch came in at 1951 HRS and reported that a person had been swept away in a creek. Montezuma Rimrock Fire District immediately dispatched Engine 711 and Ambulance 711. Then a second 911 call reported that two people had been swept away, so the incident was upgraded to a swiftwater rescue call. Sedona Fire Ambulance 531, Camp Verde Fire Engine 811 and Ambulance 811 were dispatched to the scene.

The first units arrived at the scene, a water crossing on an unmaintained dirt road, at 2010 HRS. The creek normally flows through culverts under the road, but recent warm weather and melting snow had contributed to unusually deep and rapid waters. The water was 2 feet deep above the road, flowing at approximately 1,000 cubic feet/second.

Using their handheld lights, the three firefighters spotted a man and a woman clinging to trees in the creek. They had tried to ride an ATV through the crossing, but it was swept away by the strong currents, pitching the couple into the water. The rescuers yelled to the couple to hang on, but they were not certain the duo could hear them above the sound of the rushing water.

Before rescuers could proceed, they had to move several civilian vehicles that had been parked at the edge of the water. Once this was done, they positioned an engine and ambulance at the edge of the water. They could now direct lighting on the scene. They also used the engine’s PA system to tell the couple to hold on tightly and that rescuers were on their way.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter arrived to provide lighting from above. In addition, if either of the two victims or the rescuers let go and were swept away, the helicopter crew could help locate them in the darkness downstream.

At first, with only three responders on scene, the initial rescue plan was to send a strong swimmer, tethered and in a personal floatation device (PFD), into the water to put PFDs on the couple. But then additional responders and equipment arrived on scene, so the rescuers quickly changed their strategy.

Among the equipment arriving on scene was an inflatable raft, which rescuers placed in the creek, tethered to a rope. To control the raft line, they then positioned other personnel on a footbridge about 250 feet upstream. By paying out or letting out rope, they could maneuver the raft up or downstream. Rescuers in the raft used paddles to maneuver the craft from side to side.

Once rescuers reached the couple, they pulled them into the raft, placed PFDs on them and brought them to shore. The male patient complained of back pain, so they immobilized him on a spine board.

At 2218 HRS, the Camp Verde Fire Department transported the couple to Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood, where they were treated for mild hypothermia and released. All units cleared the scene by 2244 HRS.

Sources: Montezuma Rimrock Fire District Captain Tim White provided information for this report. Some additional details were taken from an account of the incident by the Arizona Republic.

LESSONS LEARNED/LESSONS REINFORCED:
Capt. White notes the following:

Preplanning: River features and access may change throughout the year, so it’s important to update preplans after flooding events.

Safety: All rescuers in the hot zone should wear proper personal protective equipment. Any rescuers working near the water’s edge must be prepared to go into the water. Also, assign a safety officer early on. If manpower doesn’t permit this, then the responsibility falls on the incident commander. We’re all responsible for stopping or reporting unsafe practices as soon as they’re recognized.

Training: The successful outcome of this incident depended on multiple agencies coming together and working as a team. Train together before you’re called to an emergency scene.

Resources: Smaller departments learn to do more with less. As a result, we may hesitate before asking for assistance. However, it’s imperative to place that mutual-aid call early for additional resources. In a water rescue, the roles of safety officer, boatmen, riggers, upstream spotters, downstream spotters and EMS providers must be filled. Several of the people involved played multiple roles throughout the incident.

Communications: The engine’s PA system served us well. Noise from both the rushing water and the helicopter made it difficult to communicate with the subjects in the water and rescuers on the opposite bank. The ability of the subjects in the water to know our rescue plan encouraged them to hold on and prepare for rescuers to access them. Unprotected portable radios are not compatible with water, so keep them in a water-resistant covering and secured to your PFD.

Lighting: This event took place after dark. Lighting provided by first-arriving units allowed for safer and more efficient operations.

Helicopter: A helicopter was used for lighting and potential EMS transport. The setting was rural with a minimum of 30 minutes ground transport time to the nearest medical facility. In the event a rescuer or victim is washed downstream where ground lighting hasn’t been set up, the helicopter can provide immediate lighting and tracking of the victims. However, helicopters have their disadvantages: Rotor wash and noise from the helicopter were ever present. When not needed, the helicopter should be in a holding pattern outside of the emergency scene.

Rescue Editor Tom Vines is the co-author of “High Angle Rescue Techniques” and “Confined Space and Structural Rope Rescue.” He operates a rope-rescue consulting group in Red Lodge, Mont.