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The County of Renfrew Paramedic Service’s Sierra Team recently responded to a call at the Eagles Nest lookout in Greater Madawaska for a patient with serious injuries.
RELEASE DATE:
June 26, 2025
The County of Renfrew Paramedic Service faced significant operational demands during the extreme heat wave that impacted the region from Sunday, June 22 to Tuesday, June 24.
Compared to call volumes from June 2024, this year’s heat wave led to a marked increase in emergency responses, with Paramedics treating seven patients for heat-related illnesses – six serious and one critical. This surge highlights the growing strain on vulnerable populations and the frontline crews providing care.
An Imperfect Storm: In anticipation of the risks posed by the extreme heat and severe storm activity on the evening of June 21 into June 22, the Community Paramedic Program mobilized quickly. Their proactive outreach included 30 phone check-ins for clients experiencing power outages, 30 for heat-related concerns, and 77 in-person wellness visits to vulnerable Mesa and Community Paramedic clients. Paramedics also visited local cooling centres 17 times to support access to hydration and relief from the heat.
The County’s Sierra Team also responded to six remote and complex incidents during this period. These included serious injuries at the Eagles Nest lookout in Greater Madawaska, a double medical response on the shoreline of Gun Lake in Madawaska Valley and overnight extractions, the first of a youth with multisystem trauma at North Depot Lake and the second an adult male impaled by a falling tree at Opeongo Lake in Algonquin Park.
On June 22, the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service’s Sierra Team made it to a young patient with a multisystem trauma at North Depot Lake after a tree fell on their tent during a severe thunderstorm the night before.
The team also led a large-scale multi-person response following tornadic storm activity at Opeongo Lake, where multiple individuals were assessed and assisted.
Additional responses included supporting a multi-agency, mass casualty incident operation at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park and a skydiving accident near Lanark County at Road 29/Upper Dwyer Hill Road adjacent to the Arnprior Airport.
Working closely with partner agencies such as the Ontario Provincial Police, Ontario Parks, ORNGE, and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre out of Trenton, the Sierra Team deployed specialized tools including rescue boats, UTVs, rope kits, hypothermia gear, and thermal imaging drones.
Ongoing and increasing community needs demonstrate the vital role that specialized Paramedic programs play and their impact in ensuring specialized medical care across Renfrew County’s diverse area and adventure activities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288
County of Renfrew Paramedic Service Commander Wade MacPherson of the Aerial Response Unit (ARU) is seen here during a large-scale multi-person response following tornadic storm activity at Opeongo Lake, where multiple individuals were assessed and assisted.
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