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The weather couldn’t have been nicer for Samaritan Air Ambulance’s first landing at Silver Lake Fire Department’s new helipad today. The air ambulance flew in today at 7 p.m. to test the new helipad as well as to deliver a wind sock to the location.

According to Assistant Fire Chief John Conley, construction on the project began last month and was funded by the town of Silver Lake and Lake Township, as well as by a donation from L.A.W. Son of Silver Lake who constructed the helipad.

Conley stated that the pad was installed in order to offer an easy landing zone on days when manpower is low at the fire department. Instead of taking up valuable rescue time, firefighters and emergency personnel can now escort patients needing to be taken to Parkview or Lutheran Hospital via ambulance, where a helicopter will be awaiting them.

Though the helipad is now operational, Conley did note that a few additional changes will be added to the pad within the next month. According to Conley, after the helipad is officially finished, an open house will be held for the public. Conley noted that both Samaritan Air Ambulance and Lutheran Air Ambulance will be able to land at the location and that other area departments will be able to make use of the helipad if needed.