Body cam footage shows what stranded deputies went through as Borel Fire flames closed in on them
By: Almost two weeks ago, the Kern County Fire Department helped facilitate the harrowing rescue of some Kern County Sheriff’s deputies who found themselves surrounded and trapped by the Borel Fire while trying to evacuate residents from their homes.
Now, thanks to body cam footage released Tuesday by the Sheriff’s Office, we have a clearer picture of what occurred — and it is gripping.
Since it started July 24, the Borel Fire has incinerated almost 60,000 acres near Lake Isabella. Almost miraculously, the wildfire — still only partly contained — has not claimed any lives. That was very nearly not the case, though.
On July 26, three unidentified Kern County sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Kern River Valley Substation and a U.S. Forest Service officer were in the grassy brown hills above historic Havilah when, at about 4:30 p.m., they found their paths blocked on all sides, with the fire advancing on them. They called for assistance.
Body cam footage shows what happened next.
“Hey, Ty, we need to get out of here,” one of the deputies says to another at one point in the pre-produced, eight-minute video provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Later in the video, another deputy is shown radioing in to dispatch.
“We are on School Street, and the fire has jumped across the road,” he says. “We’re going to be dealing with multiple fires in our area.”
The four men, trapped on a dirt road known as Carper Avenue, tried various routes of escape, but all were blocked.
“I think we need to go that way,” one of the deputies says at one point.
“I can’t see if we can get out that way,” says another.
“I don’t think so, man,” says a third, adding, “We’re (expletive) stuck.”
They then drove to a clearing to avoid the rapidly spreading flames, hoping they might be more visible to rescuers.
“The mountain is completely engulfed,” one deputy radios to dispatch.
But aerial fire support — a helicopter — could not safely reach them because of excessive smoke cover.
The Forest Service officer had two Nomex flame resistant jackets, and he gave them both to deputies. Fortunately, they weren’t needed.
Kern County Fire Department crew members were finally able to reach a road some distance away where the stranded deputies could see them, and from there the fire crews safely led them out, past fiery roadblocks and multiple close calls. The ordeal lasted 40 minutes but ended happily.
The packaged body cam footage ends with two county fire battalion chiefs exchanging handshakes and hugs with the grateful deputies and the U.S. Forest Service officer.