A fast-moving CAL FIRE San Diego helicopter crew rescued two Ramona residents after the rapidly growing Creelman Fire cut off their escape route on July 22. The pair were airlifted out without injuries as the fire increased to nearly 350 acres within hours.
Unit and Fire Chief Tony Mechum said the rescue highlights the versatility of CAL FIRE’s aviation program and the skill of its Helitack crews. He noted firefighters shifted within minutes from wildfire suppression to a life-saving operation before returning immediately to the frontlines.
This was CAL FIRE’s second rescue of the month. On July 17, a CAL FIRE ambulance paramedic team evacuated two people from the Thorn Fire in Boulevard.
The Creelman Fire ignited around 2:50 p.m. in brush near the 300 block of Creelman Lane and quickly grew, prompting the Sheriff’s Office to issue Evacuation Orders and Warnings for nearly 1,500 residents…