Rescue in Big Caliente Canyon
A helicopter and a hoist were deployed by the Santa Barbara County Air Operations Unit this afternoon to rescue an unidentified individual in the Big Caliente Canyon area of Los Padres National Forest, about 10 miles northeast of Santa Barbara. Two paramedics were lowered by a hoist from Fire Copter 3 to treat the patient. They determined “the patient required transport to a hospital immediately,” according to Captain Michael Klusyk of the Fire Department. The patient was hoisted into the helicopter and transported to Cottage Hospital. According to Klusyk, it is unknown how the patient came to be in the canyon. Nor were the circumstances of the patient’s condition known.
The Air Operations Unit is a collaboration between County Fire and the Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s Office received a call about the patient at 12:10 p.m.
