VenturaCountySheriff
Location: Los Padres National Forest
Date & Time: March 30, 2024 – 1300-1700 hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Aviation Unit
Victims: 11 adults (Ventura County Residents), 3 dogs
Narrative: On the afternoon of March 30, 2024, the Ventura County Aviation Unit responded to multiple groups of stranded hikers on the Sespe River Trail, in the Los Padres National Forest. This area is north of the Fillmore area. In total, 11 hikers and 3 dogs were airlifted to safety.
The recent storm over the weekend caused major impacts to the Sespe Trail in the Los Padres National Forest. Rain caused water levels in the Sespe River to rise quickly leaving hikers stranded in harsh conditions. Ground units from the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department were unable to safely access the areas to lead the groups to safety. Two separate rescue helicopters were dispatched to the area.
11 Hikers and 3 Dogs Rescued https://t.co/QyKGeB29TV pic.twitter.com/jLxJaK1An2
— Ventura County Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) April 3, 2024
Copter 9 is a Bell 412-EPX helicopter equipped with a rescue hoist, available seating for 10 passengers including the crew of 4, a paramedic, crew chiefs, and pilot. Copter 4 is a Fire Hawk firefighting/ rescue helicopter equipped with a rescue hoist, and available seating for 14 passengers including 2 crew chiefs and a pilot.
This year, Ventura County and most of Southern California has seen an increase in storms and rainfall. These storms have the ability to change normal water conditions into dangerous water currents and flash flooding. This has in turn increased the amount of rescues in the region. While both the Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office have highly trained teams to respond to these types of emergencies, we encourage outdoor enthusiasts to closely monitor weather conditions and recommendations given by public safety agencies. Rescue operations are intrinsically dangerous to both the rescuers and the victims.
The Ventura County Aviation Unit is a partnership between the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Ventura County Fire Department. Together the agencies provide staffing to the unit and respond to a variety of missions to include firefighting, search and rescue, medical calls, and law enforcement. The unit is staffed 365 days a year with highly trained Firefighters and Deputy Sheriffs. The Aviation Unit patrols and responds to all cites and areas of Ventura County regardless of which municipal police or fire department has primary jurisdiction.
Back to the topic at hand…… This, and the recent Paradise Road rescue, are prime examples of our tax dollars at good use. Imagine if we chose not to fund air rescue capabilities. In our area, flash floods have become almost a yearly occurrence, at least lately, and I’m glad to see we’re prepared and able to assist those in peril. Unless we outlaw hiking when rain is possible, these will continue. People should be encouraged, not discouraged, from exploring our beautiful outdoors. Of the thousands of hikers every day in the the SB/Ventura area, only a tiny fraction ever require this. This is their job, we should be thankful they’re so good at it!
Totally disagree with that viewpoint. People need to be smart, prepared, and think ahead. Expecting a bailout rescue has become way too commonplace around here. These are foreseeable and easily avoidable situations people are putting themselves into, and rescues involve risk to the rescuers as well. A helicopter can crash, and if it does – say goodbye to the first responders. We all know that, right? Personal responsibility is something these few folks haven’t figured out yet. Fortunately I do believe the vast majority of folks, like myself, who get outdoors regularly into remote places actually are very cognizant of what’s going on with weather and conditions. Hopefully all those who’ve had to get bailed out will learn from their mistakes. I’d like to think so.
I’d love to see people’s comments after you, a licensed captain with years of experience on the water go out and something goes wrong. Because weather doesn’t always do what we think it will. Boats don’t always run the way we want them to, even if we are knowledgeable and prepared.
Oh, leave him out there! Oh, wait a moron! Oh he deserves it! Oh, charge his ass for the rescue! blah blah blah
My viewpoint, as I clearly stated, is that I think it’s good that we have the skilled and capable air rescue teams available for these types of rescue. Do you really disagree with that?
So what do you propose we do when hikers get stranded in the backcountry (or even front country) due to injury or flash flood?
You Sac are never one to hold those who have to get rescued responsible for their own actions or to realize that there is a real cost and physical risk involved with rescue operations. I don’t think anyone here has ever said we don’t value having the rescuers.
Think about the difference if you want to.
and you just love to shame people while you sit in your comfy chair, hiding behind your screen. i work SAR. My dogs work SAR. You sir, are no better or worse than anyone else and we would save you as well. Very poor views on reality Basic. Your arguements are weak at best and you have a very sour view on reality. Look pal, people aren’t all like you. most of us get out of the house and do things. you can’t tell what weather will do. those people made a difficult decision to call for help. I’ve been there myself. That’s is the reason i got into this. You can enjoy your freedom of speech, but realize that the world doesn’t operate that way you think it should for a very good reason. You have issues with this, blame mother nature for creating weather patterns that change. Sheesh….
Exactly. Shit happens. Yeah, it would be great if people always did their best to be prepared for anything. But even then, shit happens. What do these people want? For first responders to only assist people that pass the competency test…as administered by who?
Do they want no police downtown after 11:00 because “anyone walking around downtown at that time is a moron and doesn’t deserve to be helped””? Do they want every residential fire call to be investigated to see if a home owner fucked up? “Oh, sorry ma’am, we determined you didn’t appropriately maintenance the lint trap on your dry so not only do you get a burned up laundry room but you also owe us 10k for our time”.
Do they want every boat that is dismasted because of a rigging failure to be impounded after rescue and sold because the owner didn’t notice a corroded turnbuckle?
I mean, if there is an ambulance call for a heart attack do they want the EMTs to bail when they see the patient is fat? “You shouldn’t have hit that In N Out so often–your fault!”
Obviously personal responsibility matters. But these self righteous peanut gallery yappy fucks out there criticizing every time a first responder helps a clown out of a jam are really full of shit.
Yup. It’s one thing to complain and have a solution, but to just constantly gripe and insult those in need of help without providing any constructive or viable alternative is just useless. When it’s a so called “doctor” AND a supposed captain, it’s even more distressing. No regard for personal health and safety and no compassion for those in need of rescue. Who engages in risky activities and makes a career out of helping people and then spews that kind of vitriol?
Thanks for doing what you do, and thanks for adding some gravitas to the pointless armchair critiques. I’m out on the trails a lot and have decades of experience and I know that accidents can happen to anyone, no matter their foresight or skills. I hope I never need your crew but it’s great to know you folks are there.
KNein – absolutely. What I don’t get though, is how he kicks and screams anytime there is a rescue of hikers, but when asked what he would do differently, he says “go rescue. Duh.”
If someone has a better idea, share it. Otherwise, just keep the crying to a minimum when ever a lost, injured, stranded hiker gets rescued.
Which SAR departments do you work with? Just curious, as I know a few fire captains, etc.
Well, that’s not true at all. If someone does something stupid that puts them in danger, of course they should be accountable. Difference is in our definition of stupid. You think just going for a hike when it might rain is stupid or “thinking” you sprained an ankle and having less than a 3/10 pain level. You don’t differentiate between rescues, as long as they involve hikers.
But more importantly here, can you answer the question? What are rescue teams supposed to do when a hiker gets injured or stranded due to a flash flood?
Even if someone does something foolish, they shouldn’t have to pay with their lives if it can be avoided.
Obvious answer – when they get the call they go rescue. Duh.
See? Try to have an actual conversation and you do this.
No, I asked IN YOUR opinion, since that’s what you’re talking about. Here, let me try again: So what do YOU propose we do when hikers get stranded in the backcountry (or even front country) due to injury or flash flood?
If you think this is a waste of resources and they should be responsible, etc etc ad nauseum…. then what is YOUR solution here?
Same answer – they go.its obvious, they have to go. You are losing it.
Once again, turning to insults when you’re confused….
OK, so your solution is to continue rescuing hikers who are lost, injured or stuck in a flash flood. You approve of these rescues. So why are you always complaining about them and arguing with me now about my viewpoint that these are good?
“Totally disagree with that viewpoint.” – Yeah, but you don’t. You DO think these people should be rescued. You said it yourself when I asked what you think they should do.
This is why I think you come here solely to argue with others. You say one thing, then turn around and say the opposite and insult anyone who challenges you. It’s exhausting, Doc.
The rain adds to the adventure and an unpassable creek should cause anyone to get a better hiking buddy.
Sespe Creek is a dangerous place in winter with heavy rains many times. Back around 1969 several boy scouts, their leader, Navy-Seabee-Cat driver were all drowned coming out of the area. crossing Sespe Creek. Knowing the area well and knowing the history of the back country here is a must, never forget this if you want to have a good experience in local mountains, Grady Overstreet.
Yep. The Sespe’s no joke with this much rain. Plan ahead, folks, and think.