A logger injured in an area southeast of Cascadia was airlifted to the hospital Tuesday morning, May 23, according to the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District.
James Evans, 52, of Lebanon who works for Leeway Logging was injured while on a logging operation by debris rolling downhill, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
In a statement the fire district said it was notified at 11:34 a.m. about the injured logger and was given GPS coordinates of the location. However, the exact location and route to get to the logger were unclear.
SHFAD officials decided the most likely route was to access the logger off the Upper Calapooia road system, and one ambulance and the rescue unit started in that direction, while another chief officer started up the Wiley Creek side.
Oregon Department of Forestry in Sweet Home heard the call and went to assist the chief from the Wiley Creek side. The chief encountered a log truck driver who was coming down the hill, who confirmed that the location was on the Wiley Creek side.
A Life Flight helicopter had been called for and was responding to Sweet Home from Redmond. The chief was able to locate the logger and notified Life Flight of the location.
The helicopter was able to land in a wide spot on a logging road near the landing.
The logging crew assisted the chief in loading the injured logger into the helicopter.