A rare site took place on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 in Bewdley as an air ambulance landed in a small park just a few metres from the main street.
Northumberland County Paramedics were dispatched to a person who fell striking their head.
The air ambulance (ORNGE) is only dispatched for serious or life threatening injuries.
Before we get started, let’s be clear, Northumberland Paramedics are amazing. This column in no way does, or should cast doubt on their professionalism. Same with ORNGE. Both are the definition of “professional.”
But questions have to be asked.
Why wasn’t Hamilton Township Fire Department dispatched to the scene?
As most people know, fire departments regularly are dispatched to serious medical calls that fall under a certain category.
After asking for a few bits of information from Northumberland County who oversee Northumberland County Paramedics, time criteria wasn’t a concern.
Northumberland County stated that it took paramedics just over 14-minutes to arrive on scene as they were in the Port Hope area.
With Bewdley Fire Department only a few blocks away, they certainly would have arrived before paramedics.
Firefighters have medical equipment on-board their apparatus. A defibrillator, oxygen and other basic medical equipment. In this case, could anything have been utilized? Likely not, but really, at the time, who knew?
Wouldn’t it have been prudent for fire services to have been dispatched to the scene?
At the very least, firefighters could have provided critical updates for responding paramedics.
For decades firefighters have done a lot more that put water on fires.
When paramedics have to travel over 14-minutes to a urgent call, if firefighters were called, they could have updated on the patient, vital signs, level of conscience and more.
They can talk to witnesses, possibly calm witnesses. Get vital information, were alcohol or drugs involved.
All of those could be updated to paramedics responding to the call.
What makes this more troubling is when the air ambulance landed, it was basically a free-for-all for people in the immediate area.
Paramedics are busy with the patient. There were no police or firefighters at the location.
The air ambulance landed in a small park bordering Rice Lake. The area is a very popular place for snowmobiles coming off the lake to park, while grabbing a bite to eat.
Firefighters could have controlled the area and kept people a safe distance away. With the winter we’ve had the blowing snow from the rotors caused white-out conditions on the main road of Bewdley while taking off and landing.
Firefighters could, and should have been there for the patient. But it might be a liability not having them there. Who would advise people in the area to stand back. With rotors spinning, it might have and possibly did cause a brief white-out on the main street.
While ORNGE paramedics assessed the patient, the engine of the helicopter was turned off.
Snowmobiles passed under the rotors to travel back on the trails of Rice Lake.
Another possible liability, if they were that close, what happened if a snowmobile accidentally struck the air ambulance?
Northumberland County stated the air ambulance was “in the area” when they were dispatched “as a precaution”, but Flight Tracker showed they were on their way back from near Bracebridge and flying south over Markham when they diverted to Bewdley.
They arrived at 3:19 p.m. and left without the patient at 3:45 p.m. after it was determined their services weren’t required.
The ambulance transported the patient to hospital by land for further assessment and care.
“The air ambulance was flying in the area and, when the call came in, dispatch contacted them as a precaution. Once on-scene, Northumberland Paramedics advised air ambulance was not required, however air ambulance was already on final approach at that time so proceeded to land.”
Northumberland County stated that Hamilton Township Fire Department weren’t called because, “it did not fall under the fire tiered response plan, as the patient care triage did not require fire assistance.”
What took place on Wednesday in Bewdley and likely at any serious or life threatening scene requires a lot more than just caring for the patient. Finding out what happened, updating responding paramedics of the patients condition and in this case, clearing an area for the helicopter, and possibly blocking roads from temporary white out conditions just to name a few.
If this is the way the new system that is being put in place for dispatch – they may want to have a re-look at things.
In this case, the paramedics on scene most likely would have appreciated the assistance from firefighters.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
