The following is a press release and photo from Air Idaho Rescue.

SALMON – The community of Salmon joined Air Idaho Rescue crews in a special gathering at Salmon City Park Thursday to celebrate the base’s fifth anniversary.

Guests included representatives from Steele Memorial Hospital, Challis Area Health Center, Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office, Lemhi County EMS, Salmon Search and Rescue, Lemhi County Fire Protection District and Lemhi County Probation.

“Five years ago, we sat down, looked at a map and asked ourselves, ‘Where can we do the most good?’ Salmon was one of the places where we felt we could help the most people, and it definitely showed that our services were needed,” said Mike Jenkins, area director of the Air Idaho Rescue program. “We really appreciate the partnerships we’ve built and the way you’ve welcomed us into your community.”

Among the many guests who spoke at the celebration was Lemhi County Sheriff Steve Penner, who spoke about Air Idaho Rescue’s role in the EMS community and the program’s impact on emergency care for residents.

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“They’ve really settled in well and become part of the first responder family and the community,” Penner said. “But more importantly, there have been a few cases where their (quick) response time has really contributed to the patient’s well-being, if not saved their life, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Steve Rembelski, CEO of the Challis Area Health Center, emphasized the value of the program to the people of Lemhi County given the area’s remoteness and distance to better medical care.

“When it comes to time-critical emergencies, minutes really make a difference,” Rembelski said. “Before Air Idaho was in Salmon, it could take up to an hour and thirty minutes for a plane to get to our facility, and I’ve literally seen patients on their knees praying for every minute.”

Although safety is always the top priority for the crews, Rembelski says they are competent, friendly and compassionate.

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About 40 guests enjoyed a casual lunch and were able to watch up close a helicopter flying in from West Yellowstone. The aircraft Salmon was operating was en route to a mission.

Family members of former patients expressed their appreciation, and Lenny Skunberg and Ilona McCarty, who lease the hangar and crew quarters, expressed their gratitude for the program.

Not only are local residents grateful to have Air Idaho Rescue right on their doorstep, the crew is grateful to be part of such a warm and welcoming community and is proud to provide the highest level of emergency medical care by air.

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“Our doctors are really great at their jobs,” said Alex Waldron, a pilot with Air Idaho Rescue. “They enjoy doing it … and it’s great to see someone do their job so well. I’m lucky to be able to work here and the community is lucky to have the nurses and doctors here working for Air Idaho.”