Happy Gulch Fire Smokejumper Injuries 2021

On the Happy Gulch Fire on the Kootenai National Forest, a smokejumper suffered a knee injury on landing. Medical size-up indicated a “Green” medical. The patient was successfully packaged and delivered to a ground ambulance for transport to a medical facility. During patient transport, the ambulance was involved in a motor vehicle accident (MVA), resulting in additional injuries to the smokejumper. Once assessed at the medical clinic, it was determined that the smokejumper could have a possible skull fracture (due to the MVA) and was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, Montana. where it was determined that the smokejumper had a fractured skull (from the MVA) and a broken patella (from the jump injury).

[This data was provided the USFS Weekly Summary Report.]

Medical Emergency, Vehicle Incident or Accident