The Sedona Fire District responded to a call on Sunday, Aug. 25 that points out the dangers of walking along State Route 89 in Oak Creek Canyon.
At around 12:30 p.m. units from Station 5 in Oak Creek Canyon and Station 4 in Uptown responded to an area one-half mile north of Slide Rock State Park along 89A. The patient, an 8-year-old girl, had been walking along the roadway on the outside of the guardrail when she fell and rolled approximately 75 feet down the hill, SFD reported.
SFD firefighters, paramedics and EMTs made their way to the patient and assessed and treated her injuries while a rope system was built to help lift and remove her back up to highway level.
During the rescue, State Route 89A was closed for the duration while crews operated from the roadway.
“As we were responding to the incident we were forced to slow our response due to pedestrians walking in the roadway with coolers and tables on their way to Slide Rock,” Acting SFD Chief Jayson Coil said.
“Once on scene, our ability to reposition apparatus and turn them around was also hampered by the line of cars parked in the passing lane just north of the accident. This contributed to the need to shut both lanes of traffic for an extended amount of time while we conducted the rescue.”
Coil said this created long delays for anyone traveling through the canyon. Later, when fire vehicles were attempting to return to Sedona they were again slowed by a vehicle parked in the roadway on a narrow section. At his request, Arizona Department of Public Safety had the vehicle towed.
“Fortunately, no calls for service were impacted by the delay,” he said. “This single incident highlighted many of the challenges we face daily in Oak Creek Canyon.”
The patient was extracted and placed into an SFD ambulance and transported to a landing zone at Slide Rock State Park.
A Guardian Air medical helicopter had been requested and dispatched early when dispatch reported the nature of the call.
The girl was transferred to the Guardian Air crew and transported to Flagstaff Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment.
“I know there are multiple agencies working to develop and implement a plan to control access to Slide Rock State Park and eliminate the illegal parking that impacts our response,” Coil said. “I am confident they are moving as quickly as they can to correct the issue. Unfortunately, it may not happen fast enough to prevent a loss of life.”
