PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Fire Department will help move patients from Olympic Medical Center to William R. Fairchild International Airport for fixed-wing trips to advanced medical facilities.
The Port Angeles City Council approved an agreement last week with Life Flight Network LLC to provide the service.
Life Fight, an Oregon-based air medical transport service, began operating out of William R. Fairchild International Airport in Port Angeles late last month, city officials said.
Life Flight operates both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for patients who need rapid transport to advanced medical care facilities such as Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
While Life Flight helicopters can land at the OMC helipad and fields near emergency scenes, the nonprofit air ambulance service needed to contract with the city for patient transport to the airport when a fixed-wing aircraft is required.
“Since this is a new service, it is difficult to predict how often Life Flight will need the transport services of the Fire Department, however it is estimated that a fixed-wing aircraft will be utilized maybe 30 to 50 times per year,” Port Angeles Fire Chief Ken Dubuc said in a memo to the council.
“The Fire Department is excited to be working with Life Flight, and we recognize this as a very valuable addition to the emergency services infrastructure available to the community.”
Life Flight will compensate the Fire Department $410 per transport plus $4 per mile for ground ambulance services, according to the contract.
The City Council voted 7-0 to approve the Life Flight contract along with seven other items on its consent agenda last Tuesday.
City Council member Cherie Kidd gave the Life Flight contract and two state Department of Ecology stormwater grants “two thumbs up.”
“I am just so pleased that we are going to approve a Life Flight contract between the fire department and our new medical emergency flight service,” Kidd said before the vote.
“I think that’s wonderful, and I appreciate Chief Dubuc’s cooperation and the fire department’s cooperation in that.”
Life Flight Network has helicopter, fixed-wing and ground ambulance bases throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@ peninsuladailynews.com.
