Landslide, Rescue in Pinehurst

Last Thursday, May 29 just south of Milepost 181 near Pinehurst, a landslide destroyed a home leaving the occupant trapped inside. Meadows Valley Fire & EMS along with Riggins Fire & EMS, McCall Fire, Adams County Sheriff, Idaho County Sheriff, and ITD were able to rescue the occupant after an over two hour long extrication process.

Thanks to a great deal of vehicle extrication training, Meadows Valley took the lead on the rescue sending two crew members tunneling through many feet of rubble and mud to locate the occupant. The crew used their training to stabilize what was left of the building before entering. Crews communicated with the occupant via cell phone to help locate them under the wreckage. Once located, the crews were able to dig the occupant out. A Life Flight helicopter landed on Highway 95 to provide transport to medical services.

Meadows Valley Fire Chief Doug Buys thanked all who assisted in the successful effort stating, “the cooperation between agencies contributed to a lot of people working together to save one life”. Buys highlighted the efforts of all involved and the value of quick thinking and quick actions along with lots of training and dedication. He noted thanks for ITD making available a front end loader and thanks to all assisting agencies. Buys spoke proudly of his own crew as well, noting they all train hard and are an amazing and dedicated department. He highlighted Lieutenant Lucas Nicholson, Devin Buys, LeAndra Smith, Johnny Brown, and Becky Davis as all being “key in another successful rescue”. Congratulations and thank you to our local first responders.