Injured Mt. Baldy hiker rescued using ‘Text-to-911’

By Liset Márquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

An injured hiker was airlifted out of a popular trail Saturday morning after using new technology to send text messages to 9-1-1 operators.

The initial text message to the San Bernardino County communications center came Saturday at 10:45 a.m., said Chris Brookhart, assistant fire chief with Mt. Baldy Fire Department, an all-volunteer organization.

“By text messaging, the reporting parties were able to establish a connection with 9-1-1,” he said. “It’s definitely a helpful technology in the mountains where a connection is a problem.”