Photos: OR Firefighters Rescue Person Under 16,000-Pound Boulder on Mt. Hood
A multi-agency response was needed for the extrication of a climber who was pinned beneath a 16,000-pound boulder Sunday morning on Mt. Hood in Northwest Oregon.
Hoodland firefighters responded to the incident near Timberline Lodge and, just after 10:00 a.m., requested the Clackamas Fire District's Technical Rescue Team for additional resources. They responded with Truck 316, Heavy Rescue 305, Squad 319 and Battalion Chief 301.
Clackamas firefighters made access to the remote area on a snocat and by foot and found a victim trapped beneath a 16,000-pound boulder that moved during a small rockslide. Bystanders awaiting rescuers attempted to move the boulder but were unsuccessful.
Crews on scene requested LifeFlight and Oregon Health & Science University Hospital to deploy their field surgical scene to the team as rescuers developed a plan to free the victim.
"While rescuers labored in challenging conditions to remove the boulder, physicians and surgeons at OHSU quickly assembled medical equipment and loaded it onboard a LifeFlight helicopter in a remarkable display of collaboration," a statement from Clackamas Fire read.
Clackamas firefighters set up a rope system to remove the boulder from the victim.
Around 12:30, firefighters were able to move the boulder and free the patient, who was packaged and flown by LifeFlight to the hospital.
About the Author
Peter Matthews
Editor-in-Chief
Peter Matthews is the editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood Landing, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.