Agencies Team Up to Rescue Injured Hiker

Lakeside, CA - Lakeside Firefighters along with several other agencies responded to a rural area north of El Monte County Park on Sunday, December 26, 2010, to rescue a hiker who was injured in a fall. Heartland Fire Communications dispatched units from Lakeside's Lake Jennings (fs3) and Riverview (fs1) fire stations at 11:41 a.m. Lakeside Battalion 1 (Weber) established El Monte IC and requested S.D. Sheriff's A.S.T.R.E.A. helicopter to assist units on scene in locating several hikers who were in an inaccessible area north of El Monte Rd.

A.S.T.R.E.A. quickly located the hikers and confirmed one injury. Additionally, San Diego County Copter 12 was requested to perform a hoist rescue.  The injured hiker was airlifted to waiting firefighter/paramedics at El Monte park who treated and transported him to an area hospital. Two other hikers and two dogs were also airlifted to the park.

Agencies assisting on this incident included Lakeside Fire (E1, R3, B1, 4101), Santee Fire (M4), CalFire (B3312, Copter 12), S.D. County Sheriff (A.S.T.R.E.A., Copter 12), and S.D. County Park personnel.

Hikers were in this area.

S.D. County Copter 12 on the ground at El Monte Park.

Sheriff's A.S.T.R.E.A. located the hikers.

Story and photos by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District