Four members of the US National Guard were rescued and airlifted to safety in Butte County, California on Saturday after getting injured while assisting in the fight against wildfires in the region.
The four servicemen were among more than 600 National Guard members assigned to California wildfires and were assisting in battling the Bear Fire when they reportedly got stuck, with the only rescue possible being by air.
The four were said to have been released from hospital after being treated for injuries to their legs and heat exhaustion.
"H20 assisted with the rescue of four injured firefighters. Injuries to the firefighters were extremity and heat related injures.
"H20 crew picked up Firefighter Benton, Nevada County Fire Helicopter Rescue Technician, who was inserted via hoist to facilitate the extraction of the firefighters on a steep and rugged mountain side, north of the South Fork of the Feather River.
"All four firefighters were hoisted from the mountain side and transported to an awaiting Butte County ambulance for transport to Oroville Hospital. All are expected to make a full recovery," CHP – Valley Division Air Operations wrote alongside video shared on social media.
Cal Fire on Sunday said that 8,300 wildfires have burned more than 1,618,742 hectares in California so far this year, more than double the previous record set two years ago with 675,825 hectares.
