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Cabin Destroyed at Camp Edwards

Engine Hits Tree After Firefighter Suffers Stroke

By News Staff Member
Sunday, February 17, 2008

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Angelus Oaks, CA – The caretaker's cabin was destroyed Sunday at Camp Edwards in Angelus Oaks and a San Bernardino County firefighter apparently suffered a stroke while responding to the fire shortly after noon.

The unidentified 60-year-old firefighter, assigned to Angelus Oaks Station 15 (5766 Frontage Road), was driving to the fire when the medical incident occurred and the engine hit a tree along Highway 38. No one else on the unit was injured. The firefighter was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment.

"We were able to stop the equipment before anything happened," one firefighter stated during a scanner transmission to the Edwards Fire incident commander.

Additional scanner reports reveal that a firefighter called in emergency traffic at 1:15 p.m. to report the incident while other units were containing the blaze at the YMCA camp. "We've had an accident with the rig. Start medical aid. He's unresponsive." Minutes later it was reported that the driver possibly had suffered a stroke.

Dispatchers were told by firefighters on scene that the building, recently featured in the movie Rainbow Tribe (2008), was not spreading but that the structure was expected to be a total loss. The movie is scheduled for release February 28.

The South Fork Campground was selected as the landing zone to transport the firefighter to Loma Linda. The airship landed at 1:44 p.m. forcing a brief closure of Highway 38. The helicopter loaded the firefighter and departed the landing zone at 2:11 p.m.

Incident commanders directed the Cal OSHA clock to stop at 2:22 p.m. and County Fire dispatched a Battalion Chief to Loma Linda to provide firefighters at Camp Edwards with an update on the condition of the firefighter.

Published reports late Saturday night quoted San Bernardino County Fire's Tracey Martinez as saying the firefighter was in critical condition.

The YMCA of East Valley, based in Redlands, operates Camp Edwards at 42842 Jenks Road East in Angelus Oaks. The present location was obtained in 1938.

The non-profit organization's web site reveals the YMCA of the East Valley was founded as the Redlands YMCA on May 2, 1887, and held its first camp for boys on Catalina Island in 1890.

See Camp Edwards Fire for original article.