posted September 29, 2025

Emergency air medical base hosts event to commemorate milestone anniversary 

IDAHO FALLS, ID – Sept. 29, 2025 – Air Idaho Rescue commemorated 35 years of dedicated service to the people of Idaho and the surrounding states with a heartfelt celebration held at Aero Mark on Thursday, Sept. 25. The event brought together healthcare partners, first responders, former and current crew members, and families who have been touched by the lifesaving work of Air Idaho Rescue. 

“Today marks a significant occasion as we gather to celebrate 35 years of extraordinary service,” said Air Methods Director of Field Operations Mike Jenkins. “Since our founding in 1990, we have fully embodied the spirit of hope, support, and dedication, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals in our community and beyond.” 

Over 100 guests, including representatives from Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Idaho Falls Community Hospital, Lost River Medical Center, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Department, Lemi County Sheriff’s Department, Idaho Falls Fire Department, Madison County Fire Department, Mud Lake Ambulance, and Lost River Ambulance heard from community leaders, enjoyed a catered lunch, and gained insight into what it takes to deliver critical care from the skies 24/7. 

“You make a huge difference by providing critical care in critical moments, and you do an excellent job,” said Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center CEO Betsy Hunsicker. “Our patients are better because you are here, and our community is better because you are here.”  

One of those patients, Tom Fitte, shared his story. While hunting in October 2023, his four-wheeler flipped as he was packing out an elk, rolling over his body. 

“It was a significant injury, and I work for Lemhi County under the umbrella of the Sheriff’s Department so I called dispatch and immediately requested Air Idaho Rescue’s services because I knew I didn’t want to be transported via a side-by-side for two miles on a bumpy and rough road to where an ambulance could be waiting,” said Fitte. “We live in a remote area, and we rely on your services to get us to the medical attention that we need.” 

With rotor wing bases in Idaho Falls, Driggs, Salmon, and West Yellowstone, MT, as well as a fixed wing airplane in Idaho Falls, Air Idaho Rescue provides a complete ecosystem of emergency air medical support across the state. They provide interfacility transports when patients need to move from one hospital to another for specialized care, and they also respond to scene calls. They have first responder status, meaning they can land on a scene without a ground crew securing a landing zone, allowing them to administer care as quickly as possible in remote areas that may take longer to access by ground. 

“We have a vast backcountry area and the service you provide in partnership with our backcountry deputies, getting on scene fast, explaining things, and getting our team involved with you has been tremendous,” said Bonneville County Sheriff Captain Tony Glenn. “You guys make us a better Sheriff’s Office, and that is invaluable to us and to the community of Bonneville County.” 

Air Idaho Rescue is part of Air Methods, the nation’s leading emergency air medical service provider. Their flying ICUs carry industry-leading clinicians who are trained to provide critical care to patients suffering from trauma due to accidents, cardiac and stroke events, high-risk obstetric emergencies, and more. The crews are equipped with whole blood for transfusions in flight and the ZOLL AutoPulse® NXT automated CPR device to deliver consistent, high-quality compressions for cardiac arrest patients. 

“We are thankful for everyone here and for the partners we get to work with,” said Air Methods Account Executive Jill Eagan. “It is wonderful to have the opportunity to provide the services that we do in this vast area that we cover.” 

Air Methods is committed to providing air medical services to all members of the communities it serves and is in-network with most major health insurance providers across the country for emergency air medical services. Additionally, their patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to ensure affordability while making pre-paid air medical membership unnecessary.   

Photos of the event are available here:  
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xXy1TagehLJwidrc7 

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