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TIL CreativesWanted man screams for help during wildfire then gets arrested after airlift
A dramatic helicopter rescue during a wildfire in British Columbia took an unexpected turn Thursday(July 3) when the man pulled from a steep cliffside was immediately arrested on outstanding warrants.The 27-year-old man, identified by RCMP as Cayden Blackwell, was stranded on a rocky ledge above the Silver Creek wildfire near Hope, in BC鈥檚 Fraser Valley. As firefighters fought to contain the 0.6-hectare blaze, crews heard someone yelling for help from the cliffs above the fire zone.Court records show Blackwell was charged earlier this year with dangerous operation of a vehicle and resisting arrest.Hope and Chilliwack Search and Rescue teams coordinated a daring long-line helicopter extraction, with pilot Brad Fandrich of Valley Helicopters maneuvering through treacherous terrain to lift the man to safety.鈥淲e鈥檝e never gone from the subject of a rescue to being locked away in handcuffs within two minutes of him arriving on the ground,鈥 Fandrich said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a first, for sure.鈥滾ive EventsRCMP officers were already on the ground, waiting. According to Staff Sgt. Mike Sargent, police arrested Blackwell shortly after he was lowered from the helicopter. He faces multiple charges, including assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, possession of stolen property, and driving while prohibited. He has a prior conviction from 2024 for driving without a license.The wildfire, burning near the popular Serpent鈥檚 Back Trail, is believed to be human-caused, though investigators have not confirmed speculation that Blackwell may have started the fire to signal for help.The terrain around the blaze is so rugged that officials say no one would camp there, and no recent lightning strikes were reported in the area.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
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(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onCayden Blackwell arrestSilver Creek wildfire Hope BCBritish Columbia wildfire rescueRCMP outstanding warrantsblackwellRCMP(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online….moreless