Hiker falls from cliff at Bowl & Pitcher

Tour Commander, 509.625.7100

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 8:47 a.m.

?At 2:25 pm on Monday, February 17, 2020, the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) was dispatched to the Riverside State Park near Bowl & Pitcher for a report of someone who fell approximately 20-feet off of rock cliffs.  The patient did not fall into the fast moving river; however, the man landed on the side of a steep section of the cliff-side.  An engine from Spokane County Fire District 9 (SCFD9) arrived on-scene within 8 minutes, with the remainder of SFD units and Technical Rescue Team assets arriving shortly after.  The SFD Technical Rescue Team, aided by resources from SCFD9 located, treated, secured, and packaged the victim in a wheeled stokes basket for a long walk back to the parking lot. AMR transported one patient to the hospital.

SFD also dispatched our Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) team, which can be deployed to offer command and technical assets quicker reconnaissance to find potential victims over large spaces. The drone was not needed in this incident. In addition, the SFD Water Rescue Team were preempted in case the patient was at risk of falling into the river.

The beauty of Spokane's natural resources draws thousands of visitors every year. Please use caution when taking in the wonder of our unique basalt rock formations and mesmerizing power of the Spokane River. A fall from the jagged cliff or into the churning hydraulics of the river can be unforgiving.