Chalybeate VFD Installs New Medical Helicopter Landing Area Thanks To Donors & Volunteers

Concrete helicopter landing area at Chalybeate Fire Department.

Darren Doyle, story:
Chalybeate Volunteer Fire Department completed the installation of a new concrete predesignated landing zone today for medical helicopters thanks to donated material and volunteer labor from firefighters and community members.

Fire Chief Daniel Johnson said the project has been in the works since 2019 but just now came to fruition. Each fire department has a designated landing zone for helicopters, Johnson said, where a chopper can land in the vicinity of an emergency and an ambulance can transport a patient from the scene to the helicopter. Chalybeate has a large flat area behind the firehouse, but it was sometimes difficult to move a stretcher across the ground, which is oft times wet and soft.

"This concrete area will allow a medical helicopter to see the zone much better from the air and the sidewalk from the firehouse will make it much easier for medical personnel to get a stretcher to the helicopter," he said.  

Chalybeate Fire Chief Daniel Johnson helps finish the concrete project.

Joey Moon helps place concrete at Chalybeate Fire Department.

Johnson said over 13 yards of concrete were donated by Garrott Brothers Ready Mix and all the labor was provided by volunteers.

"We want to thank Garrott Brothers for their generous donation and for Joey Moon for helping form and pour the concrete," Johnson said. "We also want to thank David Lindsey and Simp Duncan for donating their labor, too, along with our firefighters. It's just another way we can give back to our community."