Landing pad 'will save a life'

"This will save a life," said retired Fire Chief Tay Robertson at the dedication of a new emergency landing zone serving the Wilt Road and Squaw Creek Canyon Estates areas on Monday.

Dierk and Cecile Peters of Sisters constructed an emergency helicopter landing pad as a gift to Sisters Country residents.

According to fire officials, this landing site will improve emergency helicopter landing, loading, and transport operations. The landing zone was built in cooperation with the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District and the regional air ambulance providers. The fire district assisted with the planning of the project, with the help of Deputy Chief Ryan Karjala and Retired Fire Chief Tay Robertson.

The Peters are local residents of the Wilt Road area, who decided to include a landing area for emergency helicopter medical service as a part of their planned residential development. The landing pad is now available for emergency use at the cul-de-sac of Sisters Vista Court, just west of the intersection of Wilt Road and Buffalo Drive. The Peters provided the vision, the property, and all of the funding.

"The Peters care about their community and wanted to provide something meaningful for everyone who lives in the area," said Robertson. "The plaque at the landing pad reads 'For the patients with love' and I think this says it all. We really appreciate the fact that the Peters have, at considerable personal expense, created a long-term emergency medical transport facility for the benefit of the community."

Fire District Deputy Chief Jeremy Ast commented that, "There is no question that this new facility will make emergency helicopter operations more efficient and safer for emergency responders and the public alike."