Drone Helps Rescue Lost Hiker in Oregon Woods

A lost hiker was safely rescued in the McKenzie Bridge area of Oregon on December 26 thanks to a coordinated search effort that included drone technology, infrared imaging, and ground crews navigating difficult terrain.

The operation highlights how unmanned aircraft systems are becoming a standard tool in modern search and rescue missions, especially in rugged and low visibility environments.

Drone narrows search area quickly

As Kezi 9 reported, Central Lane 911 received a call at approximately 6:49 p.m. reporting that a hiker had failed to return from an outing near McKenzie Bridge. Weather conditions at the time were cool with scattered showers, creating additional challenges for responders working after dark.

The Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District responded alongside the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team, with Eugene Springfield Fire assisting by staging an advanced life support ambulance.

Fire crews arrived with two Type 6 engines, a rescue unit, a utility vehicle, a chief officer, and an unmanned aircraft system recently acquired through the Oregon Emergency Management SPIRE grant program.

The sources never confirmed the make or the model of the drone, but investigating about the programs, and seeing the prices of the drones, everything points out that the drone was a DJI Matrice, probably Matrice 30 or Matrice 4T.

After making contact with the reporting party, responders were able to narrow the search area quickly. The drone was deployed using an infrared camera, allowing crews to scan the wooded terrain more efficiently while ground teams used lights, sirens, and maintained phone contact with the missing hiker.

Infrared drone locates hiker in wet terrain

Two firefighter paramedics located the hiker approximately 570 feet into a heavily wooded area that included wetlands with water depths reaching up to four feet. The dense vegetation and saturated ground made access slow and potentially hazardous for rescuers on foot.

Because of these conditions, officials determined that a standard walk out was not safe. The hiker was placed into a rescue basket to ensure stability and prevent further injury during extraction.

Assistance from Lane County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue helped crews move the individual across the rugged terrain and transport them safely to the waiting ambulance for evaluation.

Training allows crews to manage multiple emergencies

While the rescue was ongoing, the fire district was also dispatched to an unrelated medical emergency elsewhere in the district, requiring some personnel and equipment to be reassigned mid operation.

According to the Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District, regular weekly training and extensive instruction allowed crews to manage both incidents simultaneously without compromising safety. Officials emphasized that preparation and interagency coordination were critical to the successful outcome of the rescue.

The hiker was ultimately recovered safely, and no serious injuries were reported.

DroneXL’s Take

This rescue is another clear example of why thermal equipped drones have become indispensable for public safety agencies, especially in rural and forested areas where time, weather, and terrain can quickly turn dangerous.

Infrared cameras do not replace boots on the ground, but they dramatically shorten search times and reduce risk for both rescuers and victims, and that combination is exactly where drones deliver their greatest value.

Photo credit: Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District, DJI.