New Year, New column

Every year, the four fire departments that serve the North Curry County area respond to several hundred calls to protect the locals as well as the tourists that come to view the spectacular rugged Oregon Coast. These calls include medical assists, search and rescues, wildland fires, structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, water rescues, and rope rescues.  This monthly addition to the Port Orford News is meant to inform and relay the activities and services of the Sixes Rural Fire Protection District (RFPD), Langlois RFPD, Port Orford RFPD, and Coos Forest Protection Association (CFPA).

As far as more major calls, there were two. On December 27^th, concerned neighbors had called Chief Moore about a truck and trailer that was off the side of Airport Road, so he asked a firefighter to go and investigate. Upon arrival, it was determined that a male and female patient were both unresponsive, so 911 was called to dispatch fire and EMS. Unfortunately, and despite all life-saving efforts, the male patient did not survive, but the female was transported reported to be recovering. An official Sheriff’s report said that drugs were involved. Sixes Fire, Langlois Fire, Port Orford Police, Cal-Or Ambulance, Bay Cities Ambulance, OSP, and Curry Sheriff were all on scene.

The second major call came at 3am on January 11^th for a boat: the Texas Lady had run aground at Paradise Point in Port Orford. Port Orford Fire arrived on scene and then requested the Sixes RFPD SCARR (Sixes Combined Aquatic & Rope Rescue) Team. Three swimmers and four ground crew from the SCARR unit arrived at about the same time the Coast Guard helicopter did. Because of the precarious nature of Paradise Point and how close the Texas Lady was to the shelf, not to mention wave sets spaced at about six seconds apart, it took some brainstorming from all agencies to decide the safest way to get the remaining two fishermen and their two dogs off of the violently bucking boat.

A rope was tossed to the captain who tied it to a railing and then two life jackets were sent up the rope for the crew. The captain secured one dog in a harness, and the second in a duffel bag to be “zip-lined” down the rope and safely into the outstretched arms of rescuers. After much debate-taking into account the undertow, the violently rocking hull “crush zone,” and the precarious position and height of the boat itself- it was determined that the safest way off would be by helicopter. The Coast Guard rescue swimmer then successfully secured one fisherman at a time, and, with surgeon-like precision, the pilot maneuvered the suspended crew members away from the boat rigging and safely onto the beach.  Agencies involved in this successful rescue were Port Orford RFPD, Sixes RFPD SCARR Team, Cal Or Ambulance, and the US Coast Guard. Special thanks goes to the good Samaritan local citizens who took their privately owned beach vehicles down to the scene to help.

The month of January saw 7 calls for Sixes, 18 for Port Orford, and 3 for Langlois. The departments have some big trainings coming up including an EMR (Emergency First Responder) 50 hour class put on by the amazing folks at Cal-Or Ambulance, as well as an intro to firefighting 15 week class put on by Sixes RFPD.  

Port Orford, Langlois and Sixes fire departments are always looking for volunteers! For questions about joining, please reach out to the following departments. They would love to hear from you! For Sixes: call Chief Moore at 541-253-6028. For Port Orford: call Chief Duncan at 541-253-6033. For Langlois: call Chief McDonald at 541-655-0513.