Latest news with #ShawnMillerick
CBS News
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
San Bernardino County Fire considering new high-tech emergency response aircraft
The San Bernardino County Fire Department is considering upgrading their emergency response vehicles by acquiring state of the start technology that would allow them to respond even more quickly. Pivotal's eVTOL, which stands for electrical vertical take-off and landing, is an ultralight, all-electric aircraft that can soar above the ground at up to 60 miles per hour. It doesn't require a pilot's license and would allow paramedics to vastly speed up their emergency response times, especially in the county's more remote or mountainous areas. "Our thought was, if possible, we could put our paramedic in there with some life-saving gear," said SBCoFD Captain Shawn Millerick. "This actual aircraft can land in water and take off out of water, so theoretically, if someone's in the middle of a lake, we have fire boats that can get to them, but that takes time. This would be quicker." Pivotal says that they've been perfecting the aircraft for over a decade, which they typically have marketed for recreation. Now, they're expanding into the defense space and emergency services. "There are a lot of specific opportunities where this is the best choice," said Pivotal CEO Ken Karklin. "Say traffic on the 10 is at a standstill and there is a cardiac arrest or stroke, trauma, gunshots ... the sooner you can get a skilled paramedic on the ground, the faster you're gonna be able to perform triage and save lives." The single-person aircraft is currently being sold for around $250,000, which is a fraction of the cost of a helicopter. It's something that department officials are considering, especially Millerick, after he got a chance to use the flight simulator. "One thing that come up in conversation was, would this thing be capable of dropping retardant? ... Instead of a person inside of it, could it be retardant or water," Millerick said. "Considering our department's about 20,000-square-miles, with numerous types of complicated terrain, that could possibly be a device we use." San Bernardino County Fire is already one of the state's most tech-forward departments, actively using drones to respond to emergencies and determine the scale before actual crews can arrive. "We're really excited to have the possibility of working with them," said Karklin. There's no timetable as to when the department will make a decision on whether they begin implementing the aircrafts into their fleet, but Karklin says that full-scale production is anticipated to begin in December.
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Explorers escape with no injuries after being rescued 250ft underground in abandoned mine shaft
Two men were rescued without injury after becoming stuck in a 250ft abandoned mine shaft. The pair were rappelling down the site near Twentynine Palms, California, on April 19 when their equipment failed. A third member of the party, who stayed above ground, was able to summon rescue crews who used ARVs to navigate the rugged terrain. Shawn Millerick, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department, said: 'This is an area that, you know, there's no way you're going to get a four-wheel drive vehicle up here. You need specialized equipment.' A rescuer was lowered into the mine using a dual-line rope system as night began to fall. 'We're just going to hoist them out one at a time, and then our rescuer will come up after,' Millerick said. Both men were secured and hoisted to the surface without suffering injuries just before 7pm. 'We had to dispatch everybody from all different points in the county,' Millerick added. Crews from Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley, Fontana, Lake Arrowhead and Hesperia were called to aid the rescue, according to SBCF. Marine Corps Air Combat Center, Morongo Basin Ambulance, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department also provided support. 'This incident demonstrates San Bernardino County Fire's readiness to respond to emergencies in even the most challenging environments,' SBCF said.
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Two men rescued after being stranded down 250-foot deep California mine shaft
A pair of California rappellers were rescued after they became stranded in a steep 250-foot-deep mine shaft. The two young men became stuck in the abandoned mine near Twentynine Palms on April 19 after their equipment failed, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. A third companion, who had remained above ground, called 911 to rescue the stranded rappellers. A video showed the operation of responding crews, who used ARVs to navigate the 'rugged terrain.' 'This is an area that, you know, there's no way you're going to get a four-wheel drive vehicle up here. You need specialized equipment,' spokesperson Shawn Millerick said in the video. A rescuer was lowered into the mine using a dual-line rope system as night began to fall. 'We're just going to hoist them out one at a time, and then our rescuer will come up after,' Millerick said. Both men were secured and hoisted to the surface without sustaining injuries just before 7pm. A rescuer was lowered into the mine using a dual-line rope system as night began to fall. 'We're just going to hoist them out one at a time, and then our rescuer will come up after,' Millerick said. Both men were secured and hoisted to the surface without sustaining injuries just before 7pm 'This is an area that, you know, there's no way you're going to get a four-wheel drive vehicle up here. You need specialized equipment,' spokesperson Shawn Millerick said in the video 'We had to dispatch everybody from all different points in the county,' Millerick added. Crews from Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley, Fontana, Lake Arrowhead and Hesperia were called to aid the rescue, according to SBCF. Marine Corps Air Combat Center, Morongo Basin Ambulance and the San Bernadino County Sheriff's Department also provided support. 'This incident demonstrates San Bernardino County Fire's readiness to respond to emergencies in even the most challenging environments,' SBCF said.
