The North Lyon Fire Protection District is working on an agreement with Battle Born Medevac to base a medical helicopter at its Main Street Station 61, a move district officials say would significantly reduce transport times for critical patients.
At a March 30 meeting, Fire Chief Brian Bunn told the board the district is developing a public-private agreement to establish an air medical transport base behind the station. He said worsening traffic on Interstate 80 between Fernley and Reno as well as long waits for mutual-aid helicopters are delaying care for patients who need rapid transport.
“This is a tool to help get our critical patients to definitive care in a timely manner, and not sit in traffic for two to three hours just trying to get to a facility,” he said.
Bunn said the plan includes a helipad with radio-frequency controlled lighting that can be turned on during a helicopter’s approach or departure. Contractors, city officials and the Battle Born Medevac CEO were scheduled to conduct a site visit to determine placement. Bunn emphasized that an agreement would come back to the board before anything is finalized.
The proposed agreement was scheduled to be considered by the board on April 9, but the item was tabled because the district had not yet received complete legal review of the agreement.
Bunn said the district was still waiting on legal opinions but asked the board to consider a special meeting so Battle Born Medevac could begin hiring staff if the agreement is approved.
“I’d actually like to get it done sooner than later,” he said. “They would have to onboard three more nurses, three more paramedics, and they need some time frame to do that because we’d be looking at firing this thing up June 1st.”
Bunn said having a helicopter based in Fernley would dramatically shorten response and transport times.
“It doesn’t fix our overarching problem of staffing, but when we have those critical patients, instead of waiting 30 minutes to 60 minutes for a helicopter, they’re spooled up and we get them to Renown in a seven-minute flight,” he said.
Board member Jay Rodriguez said the addition would be a major step for the community.
“I think it’ll be really cool when that day comes to Fernley,” he said. “Having a helicopter is going to be amazing.”
The board tabled the item as requested and scheduled a special meeting for April 27 at 6 p.m.
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