Firefighters Respond to Critical Medical Situation on West Mandeville Fire Road
By Dolores Quintana
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) swiftly responded to a distress call on the West Mandeville Fire Road in the Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Regional Park. A 55-year-old male hiker had suddenly fallen ill, prompting a joint ground and air rescue operation.
Upon arrival, an LAFD rescue helicopter was dispatched to locate and assist the ailing hiker. A Flight Paramedic was lowered to the scene for immediate medical assessment and treatment.
Subsequently, both the patient and the rescuer were safely hoisted aboard the helicopter for advanced in-flight care as they were transported directly to a regional hospital.
According to the Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park’s website, “Westridge-Canyonback Park provides more than 1,500 acres of open space bordered by upper Mandeville Canyon, Sullivan Canyon, Mission Canyon, and San Vicente Mountain Park.
The Westridge Fire Road provides trail access for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians along the north-south ridgeline. The park is contiguous with the 20,000-acre urban wilderness park known as the “Big Wild.”
