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Daxon: Brea utility terrain vehicle has had some use by the Fire Department

September 5, 2024

Hiking and mountain biking around some the 90 miles of trails in Chino Hills State Park is a great way to enjoy the beauty of the state park and get some exercise.

Lots of fun until, ouch! You have an unexpected stumble, slid into a gully and now your ankle is throbbing and hurts if you try to move it. There is no way you can’t make it back to the trailhead.

How do you get help? And how can someone locate you?

Brea’s Fire Department is ready for any hiking emergency, thanks to their trained emergency personnel and a very cool utility terrain vehicle, or UTV. I recently got to ride along in the UTV with Capt. Bill Schaefer and firefighters Dillon Fetty, Mason Fishback and Chase Kayl.

While I wasn’t along on an actual rescue operation I experienced first hand the rough and wild terrain they have to traverse in the UTV to reach downed hikers and mountain bikers within the 14,000 acres of Chino Hills State Park and the other hills surrounding Brea.

According to Fire Chief Mark Terrill, the UTV was purchased in 2018 for $31,252.

“The cost of the vehicle was partially funded by projected Fire Department savings of $14,251 and $17,000 in donations received,” said Terrill.

Capt. Schaefer added that the donations came from three sources: Walmart, FlexFit and Bright Energy. And the names of all three of the Brea businesses are on the UTV.

So far, 16 people have been rescued with the UTV, and remote rescues are its primary use. Terrill noted that it is also used for fire road maintenance, surveys, training and mutual aid.

“For mutual aid purposes,” said Terrill, “the Brea Fire Department has worked together with the cities of Chino Hills, Yorba Linda and Fullerton, as well as the Huntington Beach Air Show and various city of Brea events.”

Maybe you saw it at last month’s National Night Out on Birch Street in Brea Downtown, like I did.

It is big, bright red and for sure a very welcomed sight to injured hikers and bikers.

And speaking of bikers, especially those of you who own big-ticket mountain bikes, the UTV has a large metal panel mounted on the hood where that pricy mountain bike can safely be secured while its injured owner is seated or on a stretcher inside the UTV. Schaefer noted that mountain bike owners never want to leave without their bikes. Especially since many of them cost $10,000 or more.

While the UTV was fun to ride in, I sure don’t want to ride in it because of an injury or emergency while hiking in the hills. One thing the crew emphatically emphasized was for hikers, bikers and anyone coming out to enjoy the beauty of the state park and its view of the surrounding terrain is to make sure they have enough water and to drink it.

Dehydration can make you feel dizzy, lightheaded, tired and with a dry mouth. Not good in the middle of hike or while mountain biking through rugged hills or anywhere.

Something else Schaefer emphasized was to always let someone know where you will be hiking, especially when hiking alone. Never go hiking without letting anyone know. Your life could depend on it.

He also said to note the mile markers on the hiking trails, have a map and use the what3words app. Schaefer showed me how they use it to easily reach a location. It is very precise and while I downloaded the app I am still learning how to use it.

Be sure you can properly use your navigation tools before taking that first step on the hiking trail. And do to tell someone!

Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month.

Orange County Register

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Daxon: Brea utility terrain vehicle has had some use by the Fire Department

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