Three folks have been killed when a helicopter that was deployed to combat a wildfire in Southern California collided with one other and crashed on Sunday night, officers stated.
The three males who have been killed have been aboard one of many helicopters, Southern Region Chief David Fulcher of Cal Fire, the state’s firefighting company, stated in a news convention early Monday. He stated the opposite helicopter landed safely.
Chief Fulcher didn’t identify the victims however stated they included two Cal Fire personnel and a pilot. No different accidents have been reported.
Both helicopters have been beneath an “exclusive agreement” with Cal Fire, Chief Fulcher stated.
The collision and crash occurred as crews have been responding to a hearth in Riverside County, simply east of Los Angeles, that began in a constructing and unfold to the encircling space, Chief Fulcher stated.
The fireplace was reported by Cal Fire about 6 p.m. on Sunday. At that point, it had unfold to about three acres. Within an hour, the company stated the hearth had been contained.
The helicopter crash prompted an extra four-acre fireplace, which was later extinguished, Chief Fulcher stated.
He described the crash as a “tragic loss” for the neighborhood. “We’ve lost three great individuals,” he stated. “Three fathers, three husbands, three friends, three sons.”
Lauren McCarthy and Corina Knoll contributed reporting.
Source: www.nytimes.com