Fawnskin, United States - March 13, 2025 Firefighters from Station 96 in Fawnskin sprang into action on Thursday afternoon, using their snow cat to evacuate dozens of stranded conference attendees from YMCA Camp Whittle after a fierce storm hit. Up to 300 people had already fled the camp on foot, trudging through thick snow to reach clear roads where buses were waiting. The crew then swooped in to rescue those still stuck, as the camp had run out of food and supplies when the conference wrapped up. Meanwhile, in Lake Arrowhead, County Fire crews relied on another snow cat to tackle snowed-in access roads. The drama didn’t end there—two buses carrying evacuees from Camp Whittle got stuck in icy conditions on Hwy 18 near the Mitsubishi plant east of Lucerne Valley. North Desert Division units teamed up with CHP Arrowhead and Big Bear Fire to get them moving again. Miraculously, no one was hurt. County Fire’s mountain divisions have leveled up in recent years with new, souped-up snow cats based in Wrightwood, Twin Peaks, Lake Arrowhead, and Fawnskin. Fire engines here pack 4x4 power, and ambulances come equipped with snow chains. Helping motorists trapped in brutal winter weather is all in a day’s work for these crews. They’re urging drivers to slap on snow chains and stock up on water and supplies in case they get stuck. The wild rescue missions kicked off on Thursday, March 13, after the storm slammed the region.