2026 Begins With 3 Simultaneous Search and Rescue Incidents

Published on January 02, 2026

2026 began with a series of search and rescue (SAR) operations in stormy weather as YCSO deputies and Forest Patrol personnel along with volunteer SAR teams responded to three separate incidents on New Year's Day.

The most complex operation began about 6pm on Jan 1, off Bumble Bee Road southwest of Sunset Point, where a 55-year-old male hiker fell from a ledge, sustaining a serious leg injury. The rescue mission faced immediate challenges due to poor weather and environmental conditions. Local flooding prevented transporting the injured hiker to safety by ground. Plunging temperatures and steady precipitation created a risk for hypothermia - both the injured hiker and rescue team members began to experience symptoms. A SAR team remained with the hiker throughout the night, maintaining a fire to provide warmth in the cold and wet conditions.

The weather initially grounded all air support, forcing multiple rescue attempts to be aborted due to unsafe flying conditions. In response, deputies worked with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) to request a military Blackhawk helicopter. Following a night of coordination on the mountain, the Blackhawk crew successfully airlifted the patient at 7:45am on Jan 2 and transported him to waiting medical personnel.

While the complicated Bumble Bee operation was underway, deputies simultaneously managed two additional New Year's Day incidents after sundown:

· Wickenburg (6:20pm): Deputies responded to the Blue Tank Wash area for a report of a lost female hiker. A Forest Patrol deputy located the hiker and escorted her safely to her vehicle.

· Sedona (6:30pm): A deputy responded to a report of a lost male hiker. The hiker was located on the trail and brought to safety.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Daisy Mountain Fire Dept, our excellent volunteer search and rescue teams (4x4 unit, Verde SAR, Back Country, and Jeep Posse), and DEMA for their assistance in these operations.