CABAZON, Calif. (AP) — Two firefighting helicopters collided whereas responding to a blaze in Southern California, sending one to the bottom in a crash that killed all three folks on board.
The accident late Sunday afternoon within the desert about 85 miles (137 kilometers) east of Los Angeles concerned an enormous Sikorsky S-64E and a smaller Bell 407. The bigger Sikorsky landed safely.
“Unfortunately, the second helicopter crashed and tragically all three members perished,” Cal Fire Southern Region Chief David Fulcher mentioned at a information convention early Monday.
The Bell helicopter was getting used for statement and coordination, Fulcher mentioned. The Sikorsky can drop water or retardant on fires. Fulcher mentioned he didn’t know whether or not it was loaded on the time of the crash.
The victims had been Cal Fire Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, Cal Fire Capt. Tim Rodriguez, and contract pilot Tony Sousa, the firefighting company mentioned.
Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department assets had been dispatched to a construction fireplace close to the intersection of Broadway Street and South Ronda Avenue locally of Cabazon shortly after 6 p.m. That blaze unfold into surrounding vegetation and a full wildland fireplace dispatch was initiated, which included six airplanes and helicopters.
“That’s not an uncommon dispatch for a wildland fire, to send those resources,” Fulcher mentioned.
Cal Fire mentioned in a social media put up on the time that the fireplace was burning “in light flashy fuels with a moderate rate of spread” and had unfold over roughly 3 acres (1.2 hectares).
While battling the blaze, the 2 helicopters collided simply earlier than 7 p.m. The crash triggered a further 4-acre (1.6-hectare) fireplace, which was extinguished.
“Although this was a tragic event, we are also thankful today that it wasn’t worse,” Fulcher mentioned.
The sky was clear and there have been breezy winds typical of the Cabazon space, mentioned Capt. Richard Cordova, a Cal Fire public info officer for the area.
“They were good conditions to fly in,” he mentioned.
The Bell crew’s mission was to inform helicopters the place to make drops, working along side the crew of an airplane flying above all others, Cordova mentioned. That aircrew’s position is named “air attack.”
“They kind of work together,” Cordova mentioned. “The air attack is the main boss up in the sky and the helicopter coordinator assists with the air attack and helps out with the helicopters.”
The pilot of the crashed helicopter was flying below contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Sikorsky and its two-person crew had been additionally below contract.
Cal Fire operates its personal fleet of about 60 plane but in addition contracts with business corporations for added helicopters and airplanes which can be on standby at bases statewide.
Cordova mentioned in-flight collisions are uncommon however have occurred throughout earlier California wildfires. He recalled two situations over a number of a long time however didn’t instantly have particulars.
The crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”