TAFT, Calif., On February 10th, 2024, at 12:06 p.m. Kern County firefighters were dispatched to a report of a head-on collision involving 2 motorcycles near 25 Hill Road. Firefighters responded, bringing 4x4 patrols in addition to fire engines due to information that the accident was off-road. The 9-1-1 caller met firefighters as they arrived and led them to the scene. The accident occurred down in a deep drainage and firefighters hiked down to the patients and began assessing their injuries. Due to the remoteness of the location and an inability to drive an ambulance into the drainage, KCFD’s Helicopter 408 was launched to hoist out the injured individuals. Fire crews provided emergency care to the patients, one of whom suffered serious injuries. On arrival, Helicopter 408 hovered overhead, utilizing the hoist system to send down a rescuer to the group.  Firefighters carefully secured the patients and they were raised into the helicopter, one at a time. Both patients were flown in H-408 to nearby Taft airport where they were transferred into waiting ambulances. The seriously injured patient was transported in Calstar 7, a medevac helicopter. The other patient was transported by ground ambulance. A combination of sound decisions, skilled personnel, and specialty equipment allowed Kern County firefighters to quickly bring necessary assistance to those in need.