Cabazon Helicopter Rescue: 1 Hospitalized, Officials Say

CABAZON, CA — One person was hospitalized Friday after being rescued from a remote part of Cabazon, fire officials tell Patch.

The incident came in as "smoke investigation" around 8:45 a.m. but when fire crews got to the scene southeast of Cabazon, they found a hiker needing help.

Cal Fire and Morongo Fire officials assisted in the "technical hoist rescue" of the man, who was first taken out of the area by helicopter and then brought to a waiting ground ambulance, agency officials said. His injuries were described as "moderate."

It wasn't immediately clear if the two small spot fires that crews found in the area — which were contained by 10:31 a.m. — were set by the man who was hospitalized, possibly as a signal for help, according to the fire department.