LAKEPORT >> The wildfire began just east of Lower Lake as the hot afternoon of Aug. 13 slowly faded into evening. For Lake County residents — and the employees and physicians of Sutter Lakeside Hospital — the Clayton Fire was an eerie reminder of the county’s grueling 2015 wildfire season.
Less than 24 hours after the Clayton Fire began, Sutter Lakeside opened its incident command center to prepare for the emergency. An hour later, as the fire edged toward the town of Clearlake, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake notified Sutter Lakeside that SHCH needed to evacuate all its patients.
Sutter Lakeside operated as the only hospital in Lake County for the next 64 hours. It accepted 15 evacuated patients, which instantly doubled its inpatient count. At the same time, its emergency patient volume doubled to 96.
“Several of our staff members live in Lower Lake, the evacuated area, and unfortunately, three of them lost their homes in the fire,” said Siri Nelson, chief administrative officer, Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “Despite evacuation orders, many providers and staff members answered the call to care for patients and came to work without knowing whether the fire would spare their homes.
“Meanwhile, many of our team who survived the Valley Fire relived the terror of last year’s events. The emotional trauma they suffered has not been forgotten, but the events of last summer also added a layer of compassion to our actions in the Clayton Fire.”
Staff and administration flooded into the hospital to prepare for the influx of patients with less than a half hours’ notice.
“We responded with a sense of urgency and preparedness, along with a palpable sense of community and empathy,” said Nelson. “After the initial rush died down, staff’s weariness reflected that of our community. A disaster can happen at a moment’s notice, and we stand prepared.”
Nelson explained that in a rural county, it is more likely that patients and employees will be affected by tragedy, even one some distance away. At the same time, health care facilities take on a great responsibility as part of the community.
“I am honored to lead a team of selfless, compassionate providers, nurses, ancillary service staff and nursing leaders who put our patients’ needs before their own,” she said. “The teamwork and support we show one another in crisis helps strengthen the bond between us and soothes frayed nerves.
