First responders help rescue a group of hikers
A group of hikers were rescued by first responders Sunday evening in Mecca.
CAL FIRE Riverside County crews responded to a call of an ill hiker on Painted Canyon Trail in Mecca just before 5 p.m. Sunday evening.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter crew assisted in the rescue. The CHP air crew managed to get a visual of the group of hikers. Firefighters helped secure a landing zone so CHP could extract each victims.
CAL FIRE Riverside County said six hikers were rescued, but the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said five adults, two males and three females from Los Angeles County, became lost and called police for assistance.
The group was then evacuated by paramedics. The hikers declined further medical treatment.
Last week, KESQ News Channel 3’s and CBS Local 2’s Katie Widner met with the Desert Sheriff Search and Rescue team who said they have seen a sharp increase in rescues in the Mecca Hills in recent months.
