HESPERIA, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> San Bernardino County Fire crews responded to a swift water rescue call Monday night on the Fork Mojave River.
The rescue call happened about 11:07pm on January 5, 2026, along the river bank near Arrowhead Lake Road.
Arriving units found two adult males in wet clothing, with a dog, on the opposite side of the river.
The two adult men had crossed the fast-moving river to reach a dog that was trapped in a small box canyon and cut off from flat land by the river. The river was very cold, and nighttime had fallen, creating an extremely hazardous condition.
After successfully reaching the dog, the men found themselves stranded and unable to safely cross back due to the strong current and lack of safety equipment.
Recognizing the danger, they called 911 for assistance.
San Bernardino County Fire Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, along with four fire engines, one ambulance, and one battalion chief, one robotic unit (drone), and one safety officer, responded to the scene. USAR personnel are trained to handle a variety of rescue situations. The USAR personnel become a swift water rescue team when called upon and had recently completed rescue boat refresher training in November. The swift water team, dressed head to toe in specialized gear, deployed the inflatable rescue boat to safely reach the men and the dog.
All three were transported across the river without injury.
San Bernardino County Fire would like to remind people that fast-moving rivers are deceptively dangerous, especially at night. Even shallow water can knock an adult off their feet, and currents can be stronger than they appear. Entering moving water without proper training, personal flotation devices, and rescue equipment significantly increases the risk of drowning.
If an animal or person is stranded near or in moving water, do not attempt a rescue on your own. Instead, call 911 and allow trained rescue professionals to respond. Good intentions don’t stop fast moving water.
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