GOVERNOR AWARDS MEDAL OF VALOR TO DEPUTIES WHO SAVED ROCK CLIMBERS DURING MONTE FIRE

By Miriam Raftery

September 19, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore has announced that Deputies Scott Bligh and Gary Kneeshaw were awarded the 2010 Governor’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor.  

The deputies received the state's highest honor for their heroic actions on August 21, 2010 to save two rock climbers trapped on the face of El Cajon (El Capitan) Mountain in Lakeside during the fast-moving Monte Fire.

The ceremony took place on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, in the Governor’s Council Room, at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

On August 21, 2010, shortly after 1:00 p.m., ASTREA was requested to assist in the wildfire at the east end of El Monte Road in Lakeside. The blaze would eventually burn approximately 1,000 acres.

The ASTREA 1 helicopter, piloted by Deputies Kneeshaw and Bligh, received word that the Sheriff’s Communications Center had received a 911 cell phone call from Andre Doria and Meg Rippy, two rock climbers who believed they were in danger and needed immediate rescue.

A cursory search for the climbers yielded no results, until a request was made of the GPS coordinates from the climbers’ cell phone company. After flying to these coordinates, ASTREA located the two climbers, however, due to their location, the fire aircraft was not a viable option for rescuing them due to the steep rocky terrain. Due to the rocky south face of El Cajon the pilots realized they would not be able to land anywhere near the climbers and the only option for their rescue was through a daring ‘toe‐in’ maneuver.

During their initial 'toe-in', Deputy Kneeshaw estimate the flames were between 50 and 75 yards downhill and burning  toward them. Initially, the crew planned to load both climbers into the aircraft, but due to the steep drop-off under the aircraft and the winds that they were fighting, the plan was aborted.  Only one of the climbers could safely beloaded onto the helicopter.

Deputy Kneeshaw stayed behind with the second climber and awaited ASTREA's return. While waiting, the wind created from the fire was becoming stronger and 15-foot-flames approached within 20 feet of their location. Deputy Kneeshaw and the climber began moving laterally along the sheer rock face away from the rapidly advancing flame front.

As Deputy Bligh flew back into the area, all Deputy Kneeshaw could see through the dense smoke was the landing light on the aircraft. With the wind continuing to bounce the aircraft around, Deputy Bligh was barely able to maneuver the ship into the toe-in position. As Deputy kneeshaw loaded the climber into the front seat, he realizaed the flames were now within 10 feet of the tail rotor.

Deputy Kneeshaw climbed onto the helicopter skid and yelled to Deputy Bligh to liftoff. With embers blowing throughout the aircraft cockpit, Deputy Bligh flew through and eventually out of the smoke and down to the valley floor with Deputy Kneeshaw standing on the skid, clinging to the exterior of the helicopter, for the entire flight--more than a mile and a half.

"Every time I think about it, I feel my pulse race," he told ECM shortly after the ordeal.  With no tether, Doria, one of the climbers, reached out of the chopper and grabbed onto Deputy Bligh's gun belt to help secure his rescuer.

"The courage these deputies evidenced during this operation goes beyond remarkable," said Sheriff Bill Gore. "We often take for granted the miraculous life-saving flights these pilots make on a frequent basis. They do so without thinking twice about their own safety and with great humility. I am honored to know them personally and have them as deputies on our department."

The rock climbers have also praised their rescuers efforts.   “We realize how very lucky we are to be here,” Rippy said in a ceremony held by local law enforcement to honor the deputies last year. “You saved our lives,” she said, ”and we thank you.”

Read ECM's previous interviews with the rock climbers and the deputies.