YCSO’s Rescue-1 Helicopter was damaged during a rescue Friday evening. Public Affairs Director Kristin Greene says Rescue-1 and Search and Rescue responded to a call of hikers in distress on Pine Mountain. The pilot found an area to land and brought water to the hikers at which time it was decided to fly the hikers out of the area. Greene says as they began to lift off, the helicopter began to lose power and the winds pushed it into a much more dangerous area of rocks and trees. At one point the helicopter rotor hit a tree and the power fully failed, forcing the pilot to land; no injuries were reported. The hikers were then guided out of the area, which was 8-miles. Greene says Rescue-1 is inoperable and will require repairs.
