Left to right: Supervisor Lee Adams, Captain James Bollinger, Jonas Kampling, Stephanie Aufdermaur, Supervisor Jill Cox (Trinity), Supervisor Gary Bridges (Lassen).

REDDING — During a Nor-Cal EMS Prehospital Annual Conference in Redding on Saturday, April 20th, Downieville Volunteer Fire Department AEMT Stephanie Aufdermaur and the crew of Tahoe Forest Engine 332 were recognized with an Exemplary Service Award; the only team so recognized during this 17th annual event for the five-county local emergency medical services agency.

The award stems from an event in September 2023 involving the rescue of a mountain biker who had fallen from the single-track trail 60-80 feet into Pauley Creek. With both Downieville ambulances already committed to other calls, it was AEMT Aufdermaur and the Tahoe National Forest E332 Crew who rescued the rider and provided necessary emergency medical care until he was transported by a responding air ambulance.

Senior Fire Captain Robert Hall of the Downieville Fire Department recognized this unique response and alerted Nor-Cal EMS to their dedicated service.

While many of the Engine crew members were participating in the Wildfire Firefighter Foundation half marathon at Bullard’s Bar with the Tahoe Hotshots on Saturday, Captain James Bollinger and Crew member Jonas Kampling represented Tahoe Engine 332 at the Redding event along with Downieville Fire AEMT Stephanie Aufdermaur. The remaining crew members recognized on Engine 332 include Jesse Folsom, William Kok, Jacob Sainsbury, Danny Saldo, Michael Correa, and Nathan Van Order.

Dr. Jeffrey Kepple, Nor-Cal EMS Medical Director, presented the award and was accompanied by three Nor-Cal EMS board members: Supervisor Gary Bridges of Lassen County, Supervisor Jill Cox of Trinity County, and Supervisor Lee Adams of Sierra County. Supervisor Adams spoke of the volunteerism that is critical to the success of EMS services in rural Sierra County, as well as the amazing partnership of Tahoe National Forest and the Engine 332 Crew with the Downieville Volunteer Fire Department personnel, EMS personnel, and Downieville Ambulance all within the Downieville Fire Protection District.

In attendance at the training conference and celebrating their local colleagues were Daniel Barry, PA of the Western Sierra Medical Clinic, EMT Kathy Fisher, AEMT Robert Baker, AEMT Leslie Baker, and AEMT and DFPD Commissioner Diane Wharff.

Nor-Cal EMS is the local emergency medical services agency that serves the five-county region of Plumas, Lassen, Modoc, Trinity, and Sierra Counties. Nor-Cal EMS regulates all training and licensing of EMS personnel in that region.