Awarded with the Beijing Youth May 4th Medal, 35-year-old Wang Jie is an instructor at the Yanqi Fire Rescue Station in Beijing's suburban Huairou District. As 89% of the district is covered by mountainous terrain, the firefighters stationed here need to possess strong mountain rescue skills in addition to solid firefighting expertise.

Unforgettable rescue

When asked about the most unforgettable rescue operation, Wang recalls a mountain rescue in the winter of 2016. "In my hundreds of rescues, that was a different one."

Around 8 o'clock that morning, the Yanqi Fire Rescue Station received a report about three hikers who had been stranded for a whole night at a remote, ancient beacon tower in the wild mountains. The squadron leader, Wang, immediately selected four firefighters and launched the search and rescue operation, guided by nearby villagers. 

It was bitterly cold at the height of winter. With a recent snowfall, the temperature dropped below freezing in the mountains. The rescue team ran out of their emergency food supply while ascending through fog and rain. Having searched in vain all morning, three firefighters were physically exhausted, and the guides were emotionally drained. Halfway up the mountain, they decided to take a short break while waiting for additional supplies to arrive and the guides and exhausted members to be sent back.

With a new guide and the remaining member, Yu Xi, Wang set out again. After several hours, Yu could no longer hold on either, lamenting, "Sir, I can't go any further."

The temperature in the mountains plummeted at night. More than 10 hours had passed since the station received the report.

"The trapped hikers will be at greater risk for any minute of delay." After evaluating the situation, Wang decided to place Yu in a beacon tower to protect him against wind and hypothermia.

The wild mountains were steep, rocky and covered with vegetation. Wang had to climb along the cliff edge with all his limbs. 

"In retrospect it was rather scary," he shares, admitting that he gets afraid when thinking about the rescue eight years later.

Wang Jie gives instructions to his teammates at a fire rescue site on Jan. 21, 2023, the 2023 Chinese New Year's Eve. [Photo courtesy of the Yanqi Fire Rescue Station]