Crews Hike Deep Creek Hot Springs Trail to Reach Injured Subject
San Bernardino County Fire and Apple Valley Fire Protection District crews yesterday teamed with San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Aviation on the extraction of an adult male who injured himself on the hiking trail just above the Deep Creek Hot Springs in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Once the patient was properly located, personnel made their approach from the Apple Valley side of the canyon, with crews entering the trail off Bowen Ranch road.
With rain falling, helicopter extraction was initially unavailable, and extra crews were called to prepare to hike in the approximately 1-2 miles and then haul the patient out of the canyon with a mobile carrying device. A County Fire all-terrain vehicle, or ARV, shuttled supplies and personnel as far down as possible before the rescuers got out to hike the rest of the way.
The patient was treated for his injury and prepared for the return hike, but the skies cleared and a Sheriff’s rescue airship was able to approach the canyon and hoist the patient to a waiting ambulance.
The entire operation was completed in approximately five hours. All told, three engine companies, an urban search and rescue company were part of the hike-in. This is in addition to the ambulance and airship crews as well as a County Fire battalion chief as incident commander.
Crews hiked back out as night fell, having marked the trail to ensure the way back. All were accounted for safely.
Time/Location: Sun., May 4, 2:30 p.m., Deep Creek Hot Springs
Incident: Hiker extraction/rescue
Contact: Ryan Beckers, Public Information Officer
rbeckers@sbcfire.org
(840) 266-1911