In the event of any emergency, 911 should be called. When a 911 call is placed on the Elk Coast, the call is routed to the Sheriff's Office. The dispatcher will determine if the problem is law enforcement or fire-rescue-medical related. For fire-rescue-medical calls, the 911 call is transferred to Mendocino County's Howard Forest Emergency Command Center (HFECC). The HFECC is in Willits, located in the NE corner of Mendocino County. The HFECC is a sophisticated communications center linked to local emergency services via hilltop radio repeaters. The HFECC dispatcher will determine the type and location of the emergency from the caller and activate pager radios carried by local emergency personnel.
Learn More about HFECC
The Elk Coast is served by two different Volunteer Fire Departments, The Elk Volunteer Fire Dept. on the north and the Redwood Coast Fire District on the south. Entry ways into the Elk Coast go through the Anderson Valley District along Highway 128 and the Albion Volunteer Fire District on Highway 1 north of the Elk Coast.
Visit Elk Fire's Home Page: Elk Fire
Learn About our Rescue Helicopters
Fire, rescue and medical emergencies are handled by the local fire departments. Given the large geographical area covered by each fire department, resources are spread out through the districts to render rapid care no matter where the emergency is. The map below shows the location of firehouses, ambulances, and Emergency Medical Technicians. Often times EMT's carry vital medical gear in their personal automobiles to provide quick medical aid.
Basic Life Support (BLS) care provided by local firefighters, EMT's, and ambulances consists of skills aimed at the primary life support needs. This includes airway management, trauma and bleeding control, broken bone management, CPR, and cardiac defibrillator care. BLS care is backed up by Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers on critical calls. ALS care provides the next step up in care including advanced airway management, intravenous fluids, drugs, and other advanced techniques. ALS ambulances are dispatched out of Fort Bragg and Gualala, about 30 to 40 minutes from the Elk Coast. For very critical calls such as cardiac emergencies, stokes and auto accidents, ALS helicopters are used. Usually only 10 to 15 minutes away, these providers are the highest level of care.
Learn more about Helicopter ALS Services
Whether you are abalone diving, driving the scenic highways of the Elk Coast, having dinner at one of our restaurants, or just enjoying the view, the emergency service volunteers and professionals of the Elk Coast are not far away.
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