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Two firefighting helicopters collided while on duty in Southern California, sending one to the ground in a crash that killed all three people on board.
Sunday afternoon's crash in the desert 137 miles (85 kilometers) east of Los Angeles involved a massive Sikorsky S-64E and a smaller Bell 407.
"Unfortunately, the second helicopter crashed and, tragically, all three members perished," David Fulcher, chief of the southern region of Cal Fire, California's fire agency, said at a news conference Monday morning. Fulcher did not release the names of the victims.
Resources from Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department were dispatched to a structure fire near the intersection of Broadway Street and South Ronda Avenue in the community of Cabazon shortly after 6 p.m. That fire spread to surrounding vegetation and a full dispatch of wildfires was initiated, including multiple planes and helicopters.
Cal Fire reported on social media at the time that the fire was burning "in light and flashy fuels with a moderate rate of spread."
While battling the flames, the two helicopters collided. The accident caused an additional fire that was extinguished. The Sikorsky landed safely. The Bell helicopter was being used for observation and coordination, Fulcher said. The Sikorsky can spew water or retardant in fires. It is unknown if the aircraft was loaded at the time of the crash.
- United States
- Fire
- Air Accidents
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