JOHN DAY — Two Forest Service fire crews have been honored for their response to a medical emergency while fighting a wildfire on the Malheur National Forest.

Crew 201 and Crew 120, handcrews operating out of the Blue Mountain Ranger District and the Burns Interagency Fire Zone, recently received the Outstanding Wildfire EMS Crew of the Year Award from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

The crews were recognized for their actions during the 2020 Sog Fire, when a member of Crew 201 was severely injured after being struck in the head by a falling boulder, the Malheur National Forest announced in a news release.

Members of both crews worked together to stabilize and provide medical help to the injured firefighter, who was transported by ambulance to John Day and then transferred to a hospital in Boise, where he underwent emergency surgery. He was able to return home a few days later and has since made a full recovery.

While dealing with the medical emergency involving one of their teammates, Crew 201 was still able to keep the fire under control, according to the news release.