WASCO, Calif., Saturday, August 12, 2023, at approximately 4:40 pm, the Kern County Fire Department's (KCFD) Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a telephone call requesting an ambulance for a victim of an off-highway vehicle accident. KCFD Engine 31 (E31) from Wasco was dispatched to the scene's location approximately 2 miles northwest of the intersection of Rowlee Road and Pond Road.

Based on the incident's rural location and the reported condition of the victim, the Captain from E31 requested an air ambulance to be placed on standby. Due to the lack of an available local air ambulance, KCFD Helicopter 407 (H407) was requested to standby. While responding to the incident the Captain from E31 also requested assistance from KCFD Patrol 33 (P33) in McFarland for its four-wheel drive capabilities. 

Upon arrival, the patient was quickly assessed by E31's crew and H407 was launched to expedite transport to Kern Medical's Trauma Center. Firefighters from E31 and P33 assisted the ground ambulance team with treating and preparing the patient for transport. H407 arrived at the scene and the flight paramedic assumed patient care. 

The patient was loaded into H407 and transported to Kern Medical's Trauma Center providing critical time savings for the victim.