Riverside County, California — Two hikers were rescued in the San Bernardino National Forest north of Anza on Monday after sustaining injuries that required intervention from Riverside County firefighters and U.S. Forest Service rangers.
The “hikers down” call came in at 12:15 p.m. along Little Thomas Mountain Road, near the Thomas Mountain Campground, according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. Crews from multiple engines and USFS personnel responded promptly to the location, about a mile west of Highway 74, and found the hikers within a few hundred yards of each other.
One hiker suffered a head injury resulting in a temporary loss of consciousness, while the other had minor injuries. Neither of the injured hikers was identified.
By 12:40 p.m., a sheriff’s helicopter crew was preparing to hoist the hiker with the head injury to a makeshift landing zone near Lake Hemet. A Mercy Air ambulance was scheduled to transport the individual around 1 p.m. The second hiker was being evacuated via a ground vehicle.
The circumstances leading to the hikers’ injuries remain unclear. The quick response from emergency services highlights the importance of readiness in handling such situations in remote areas.
