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Helicopter Daringly Rescues Christmas Eve Flood Victims
3 Jan
Summary
- Firefighter crew performed a daring rooftop rescue during Christmas Eve floods.
- The rescue operation involved landing a helicopter on a flooded home.
- Dozens of residents and several dogs were saved from the severe flooding.
On Christmas Eve, severe flooding inundated Phelan, prompting a daring rooftop rescue by a Los Angeles County firefighter crew. The crew of Copter 19 executed a challenging maneuver, landing their helicopter on a partially submerged home to reach stranded residents. This critical operation saved dozens of people and several dogs from the rapidly rising waters.
One firefighter described the shift as unforgettable, highlighting the extreme difficulty of the rescue, which was compared to balancing an elephant on a beach ball. Despite the danger, the crew successfully extricated those trapped by the floodwaters, which had transformed the neighborhood into a torrent.
Neighbors captured the dramatic rescue on cell phone video, witnessing the helicopter hover just feet above the raging floodwaters. The incident occurred after a winter storm dumped several inches of rain, causing nearby washes to overflow and inundate the area, demonstrating the life-saving efforts of emergency responders.
