Katherine Picazo

The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District is deeply saddened by the tragic air ambulance incident Wednesday night involving a REACH Air Medical Services helicopter that went down shortly after takeoff from Catalina Island while transporting a patient to the mainland. Among those who tragically lost their lives was Flight RN Jessica DeVries, a former member of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District and someone who remained deeply connected to our County Fire family. Our hearts are heavy, and Jessica’s loss is deeply felt throughout our organization, especially by those who had the privilege of working alongside her and calling her a friend. During her time with our Fire District, Jessica served as both an EMS Flight Nurse and EMS Nurse Educator. She dedicated herself to caring for others and made a lasting impression on her coworkers, students, patients, and so many others throughout our organization. Her service, compassion, and the impact she made will not be forgotten. We mourn alongside and extend our support to the entire REACH Air Medical Services family during this incredibly difficult time. We also mourn all those who lost their lives in this tragedy and extend our deepest sympathies to their families, friends, colleagues, and everyone affected by this incident. We also keep those who were injured in our thoughts and hope for their full and speedy recovery. We are grateful to the public safety agencies and personnel who responded and worked under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Our thoughts remain with Jessica’s family, the families of all those lost, those recovering from their injuries, the REACH Air Medical Services family, and everyone impacted by this tragedy.