LYTLE CREEK, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> Three people needed to be rescued when their Jeep got stuck in fast-moving water in Lytle Creek Wash in the Meyer Canyon area early New Year’s Day after heavy rain hit Southern California.
San Bernardino County Fire Crews were dispatched at 2:41am January 1, 2023, to a reported swift water rescue in the area of Forest Service Road 1N33 near South Lytle Creek Road in the community Lytle Creek. 911 callers stated one vehicle stuck in raging floodwaters with three people trapped. A full swift water rescue assignment was dispatched, including SBCoFD specialized a water rescue team.
Firefighters arrived to find one vehicle stuck in floodwaters, with three occupants trapped. The high and fast flowing floodwaters were multiple feet high, not allowing the vehicle to drive to safety or the occupants to safely exit the vehicle. Arriving personnel set-up for a rescue, utilizing specially trained Swift Water Trained personnel and equipment. Rescuers entered the flood waters and worked safely to facilitate a rescuer of two adults and a child.
Once the patients were removed they were assessed by awaiting paramedics. Thankfully a father, wife and their young daughter were uninjured and declined transport. No firefighters were injured in the rescue.
San Bernardino County Fire responded with three Engines, an Urban Search of Rescue (USAR) unit, Medic Squad, Training Officer and a Battalion Chief. Two American Medical Response (AMR) ambulances responded tp the scene.
Heavy rainfall can cause normally dry washes and riverbeds to become raging torrents in a very short amount of time and it only takes as little as 12 inches of moving water to move a vehicle. Never cross a road that you can’t see due to it being covered by water, remember, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
Lytle Creek received more than 5” of rain in 24 hours from the latest storm among the most in the region according to the National Weather Service.
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