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| Logger critically injured |
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| FALLS CITY - An Oregon National Guard helicopter was utilized in the rescue of a man critically injured in a logging accident in rural Polk County on Monday. |
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 | | SEAN CONDON / DALLAS FIRE DEPARTMENT | | Rescue crews had to hike into a remote area to reach 64-year-old Charles Johnson, who was injured during a logging accident Monday morning near Black Rock Main Line. |
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By Craig Coleman
FALLS CITY - An Oregon National Guard helicopter was utilized in the rescue of a man critically injured in a logging accident in rural Polk County on Monday.
The incident occurred about 8:30 a.m. about nine miles outside of Falls City on Black Rock Main Line, said Sean Condon, Dallas Fire Inspector.
Charles Johnson, 64, was cutting timber for Dallas-based Bruers Contract Cutting when he was hit on the shoulder and head by a falling tree, Condon said.
Emergency personnel from Falls City, Dallas and SW Polk Rural Fire District had to hike down a ravine to reach and treat Johnson, who was located about 800 feet into a remote timber stand, Condon said.
Officials ultimately decided to call in the National Guard at 9:45 a.m. for assistance because of the steepness of the terrain and the length of time it would have taken to move the victim by foot.
A UH-60 helicopter from the 641st Medical Battalion in Salem flew to the location, removed Johnson from the scene, and transported him to Oregon Health & Science University hospital in Portland by 11:40 a.m., said Major Mike Braibish.
Dallas Fire Chief Bill Hahn said just before the accident, Johnson had been using a technique in which cuts are made to a tree and a second tree is felled to knock the first one over.
"Evidently, the first tree hit the second, but the back end of the one closest to him kicked up and caught him," Hahn said.
Melanie Mesaros, a spokeswoman for Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHA), said the incident is being investigated.
"Domino" falling one tree to bowl down multiple trees is prohibited under OSHA laws, Mesaros said. Using the technique to knock down a single tree, however, is permitted, she also said.
"I'm talking about where you have a specific tree that has been cut and isn't toppling and the logger uses a nearby tree to knock it down," she said.
"The practice of using two trees is a routine when done correctly and is probably done everyday in logging operations in Oregon," she said.
Johnson was still in critical condition as of press time, a Bruer's Contract Cutting representative said. |
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