A firefighter on the Horseshoe Meadow Hotshot crew working on the Big Meadows Fire in Rocky Mountain National Park northwest of Denver suffered a cardiac arrest June 16 but was successfully resuscitated with CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator.
The incident occurred in the morning as the Horseshoe Meadow Hotshot crew was hiking with the Arrowhead Hotshots to their assignment in a remote area of the Park. Luther E. Larkin, Sr., 51, a member of the crew which is based on the Sequoia National Forest in California, began having difficulty breathing and experienced chest pains. An EMT with the crews evaluated him and detected no pulse, then started CPR. A paramedic that was on the fireline arrived within 5 minutes, carrying an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). After approximately 10 to 14 minutes with no pulse and applying one “shock” from the AED, Mr. Larkin was resuscitated.
Meanwhile back at the Incident Command Post as well as on the fireline, personnel were being reassigned to manage the incident-within-an-incident. A Flight for Life medivac helicopter was ordered and a helicopter assigned to the fire transported additional personnel to the scene, including two additional paramedics.
Shane Del Grosso’s Type 2 Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, working closely with Rocky Mountain National Park, had planned carefully for the medical treatment and extraction of firefighters on the fire. They had even swapped helicopters so that they had a National Guard ship with a hoist if that became the most expedient method to obtain treatment for a victim within the “golden hour”.
After packaging the patient, personnel on the two crews, working at an elevation of 9,000 to 10,000 feet, carried him about one-quarter mile to a helispot, arriving about the same time the medivac ship arrived. One hour and 4 minutes after he collapsed on the fireline, they loaded Mr. Larken onto the helicopter which then flew him to a hospital in Denver.
Incident Commander Shane Del Grosso said the planning paid off and the treatment and extraction worked out very well. He said the “prognosis looks very good” for Mr. Larkin, and he is “sitting up in bed and recognizing fellow crew members”.
As they frequently do, the Wildland Firefighter Foundation is providing assistance to Mr. Larkin and his family in several ways, including helping with lodging and other expenses while they are in Denver.
The presence of an AED and the availability of advanced medical care on the fireline was critical to reviving him and obtaining a pulse, the Incident Management Team said in a conference call today.
Lessons learned following the tragic death of firefighter Andrew Palmer in 2008 may have saved this firefighter’s life. It took three hours and twenty minutes after Mr. Palmer was injured by a falling tree to get him from the fireline to the airport in Redding, California where he was pronounced dead. Mr. Palmer died from excessive blood loss.
The Larkin family granted permission for this information to be released and requests that their privacy be respected.
So glad to hear you’re ok Luther, I was shocked to hear this, god bless you buddy, take care, good job horseshoe meadow and arrowhead hotshots that’s awseome!!!!!!
Amazing job to all and a speedy recovery to Mr. Larkin.
Sean E.
fight paramedic / past wildland firefighter
And kudos to IC Shane Del Grosso and Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A for having both made preparations for and practiced for such an event, and for managing the crisis with aplomb when it occurred.
My husband was involved in that rescue. He is with the Rocky mtn team.
Luther, Paula and Luther Earl,
Good luck tomorrow. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you. Can’t wait to shake your hand when I see you back in Fresno, soon! Excellent job to both crews on their response to this incident. It makes me proud to say I’ve been a hotshot.
I’m so glad you are doing well Luther. It is obvious you are well loved by your fire brothers and sisters. God’s speed and blessings to you.
dt
Luther you and yours our in my prayers. Thanks so much to Horseshoe and Arrowhead. Luther you are on of a kind. Hi to your son and wife. Your in my thoughts. Tam
It’s so good to hear a success story, especially about a dear friend! Great job Horshoe and Arrowhead. Get well soon, Luther!
Thank you Horseshoe Meadow and Arrowhead Hotshot Crews, the line paramedic, and the Team for saving Luther’s life. Excellent work by all who were involved. I would also like to thank the Wildland Firefighters Foundation for all of their support in making it possible for Luther’s family to be able to be at his side during this time. Luther, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you recover.
Take care and get well soon. Jen
This incident is a perfect example of why AED should be a mandatory tool in a crews medical aid kit.
anyone know where I can send a card ?
Talk with Luther tonight he was in good sprit’s was good talking with him.
That’s good to hear. Thanks for the update, Bob.
Get well soon Luther. Thanks everyone who applied the lessons learned from the past. Well done.
Great job Horseshoe and Arrowhead in taking care of Luther!
My families thoughts and prayers are with you buddy!!!
Great job by all involved , a excellent example of the progress wildland firecrews have made over the years. Keep up the good work. Luther old friend my thoughts are with you good luck with your recovery .
The outcome of this story is great to hear. Thank you Horseshoe Meadow H.S. and Arrowhead H.S…. and the fireline Paramedics and EMTs for an awesome job!!
Imagine… equip each module (engine, crew, helicopter, etc.) with an AED that roughly costs the price of five gated wyes…. or two chainsaws.. or two flight helmets.
When you compare the price of an AED to other pieces of equipment on our firefighting modules, the peace of mind of having them all over an incident is…. PRICELESS.
I would like to thank ALL people involved for helping Luther recover!! He is a dear friend and firefighter to many!! Luther, my prayers are with you, your family and all those affected by this incident. May God give you and them the stength to recover. We look forward to seeing you back on the Hume soon!!
Good Job Horseshoe/Arrowhead and others involved with saving Luther.
Luther, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. Get well soon Buddy.
Sequoia Engine 23
Excellent job Horseshoe and Arrowhead on taking care of Luther. My thoughts and prays our with Luther and family.
Get well sound old friend. Bob
The San Bernardino NF has had an AED program for nearing 10 years. All engines, crews, and helicopter modules are equipped with AEDs…. also… all major forest facilities are too.
Good to hear you are recovering and your family is with you Luther I have no doubt you will be 100% soon.
Great job by our brothers and sisters on Horseshoe Meadow and Arrowhead Hotshots and the planning by the team, thank you for your outstanding work.
Carothers
Thank you so much to everyone on the fire who helped to save Luther! All the great planning that had been put into place for emergencies such as this is a testament to how dedicated you are to the safety and wellbeing of our firefighters. Luther we are all thinking of you back on the district and wishing you a quick recovery!
Outstanding work Horseshoe Meadows and Arrowhead.
I LOVE reading stories like this! Strong work everybody! I wish Mr. Larkin a speedy recovery. My supervisors have been drilling into us to have an emergency medical plan in place. I had not thought about it before but at fires the supervisors always ask if any of us are EMT’s. Maybe we should be asking if anyone knows CPR and if there is an AED available and close. Maybe we should have one per crew or something. I would gladly pack the thing in my line pack.
Luther, Your a Valued Friend and Co-Worker. The Crew of Engine 32 wish you a speedy recovery, and we’re there for you and your family, how-ever you may need.
Get Well soon Buddy!!!