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Sheriff warns surge in search‑and‑rescue and limited EMS capacity as closures loom; Pine Creek water system needs generator
Summary
Skamania County's sheriff told the board search-and-rescue calls are up sharply and urged coordinated planning with Forest Service for reroutes; Forest Service briefed the board on a stolen generator and E. coli detection at the Pine Creek site the agency uses to support EMS operations.
Sheriff Summer told Skamania County commissioners on May 6 that search‑and‑rescue (SAR) calls are already running higher this year and that planned road closures and reroutes could worsen response times.
"This early in the year, usually, that's our respite from search and rescue calls. They're already up 500%." Summer said, pressing the Forest Service for clear reroute plans and warning that county responders cannot absorb an increase in delayed responses caused by rerouted visitors.
Forest Supervisor Johanna Calvert said the Forest Service would supply engineered reroute maps and that public notices and variable message signs could be used to change visitor behavior. Calvert also noted adjacent projects — including intake work at Spirit Lake — that will reduce access on parts of the 99 Road this season.
The meeting also raised a separate facilities issue at Pine Creek. Forest Service staff reported that the Pine Creek water system tested positive for E. coli and that the generator used to power that site had been stolen, leaving the Forest Service unable to restore the system without replacement power. Forest Service staff said they explored solar options but deemed a replacement generator the viable short‑term fix.
Teresa Tanner, district ranger, said Pine Creek historically housed EMS operations and that the Forest Service will look at more formal arrangements with county EMS for building use and cost sharing. "I plan to get a message to you all. It's a little bit more particulars in terms of background... there was an issue with the water system out there. It tested positive for e coli. Also... the generator that we used to power that area was stolen," Tanner said.
Officials agreed to add Skamania County EMS and local fire districts to Forest Service closure distribution lists and to continue coordination on closure messaging and staging. The Forest Service said it will provide contacts and closure notices and will work with the county to add EMS and fire district contacts to distribution lists.
No binding county action was taken; county and Forest Service staff agreed to follow up on generator replacement options and distribution of closure notices to EMS and fire districts.
