Photo: Blackhawk helicopter from the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs at the Bumble Bee incident
The New Year began with a series of search and rescue (SAR) operations as the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Forest Patrol, Deputies, and SAR teams responded to three separate incidents on January 1.
The most complex operation began at approximately 5:55 PM off Bumble Bee Road, where a 55-year-old male hiker fell from a ledge, sustaining a serious leg injury. The rescue mission faced immediate challenges due to weather and environmental conditions. Plunging temperatures and steady precipitation created a risk for hypothermia, with both the injured hiker and rescue team members beginning to experience symptoms. A SAR team remained with the hiker throughout the night, maintaining a fire to provide warmth in the cold conditions. Additionally, flooding prevented first responders from transporting the patient to safety by ground.
The weather initially grounded air support, forcing multiple rescue attempts to be aborted due to unsafe flying conditions. In response, Deputies coordinated with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) to request a military Blackhawk helicopter. Following a night of coordination on the mountain, the Blackhawk crew successfully extracted the patient at 7:45 AM January 2 and transported him to the waiting medical personnel.
While the Bumble Bee operation was underway, deputies simultaneously managed two additional incidents:
Wickenburg (6:20 PM): Deputies responded to the Blue Tank Wash area for a report of a lost female hiker. A Forest Patrol deputy located the hiker and escorted her safely to her vehicle.
Sedona (6:30 PM): A deputy responded to a report of a lost male hiker. The hiker was located on the trail and brought to safety shortly thereafter.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical Yavapai County Jeep Posse the search and rescue teams (4×4 unit, Verde SAR, Back Country, and Jeep Posse), and DEMA for their assistance in these operations.
