In a devastating incident that has sent shockwaves through the firefighting and local communities, three individuals lost their lives as two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air while battling a raging brush fire on Sunday night. The collision occurred at approximately 7:20 p.m. local time during a joint effort to contain the fire, which had engulfed 20 acres of Native American land near Cabazon.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office swiftly shared the grim news through their social media channels, revealing that the unfortunate incident unfolded in the vicinity of Pipeline Road and Apache Trail. The catastrophe resulted in the tragic loss of three lives, as the pilot and two crew members on board one of the helicopters met their untimely end when their chopper crashed into a hillside.
Miraculously, the second helicopter managed a hard landing, leading to minor injuries among its occupants. KABC reported that no serious harm was sustained by those aboard the second helicopter.
The helicopter at the center of the heart-wrenching collision was contracted by the esteemed California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The three dedicated individuals who perished in the accident were identified as a contract pilot, a department division chief, and a department captain. Their contributions and commitment to safeguarding lives and property will forever be remembered.
The entire firefighting community, as well as Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department, is reeling from this tragedy. David Fulcher, the southern region chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, expressed his deepest condolences to the families and colleagues of the fallen heroes. He described the incident as a “tragic loss” and a somber moment for the fire service community.
Richard Cordova, a fire captain and spokesperson for Cal Fire, confirmed that both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have commenced investigations into the harrowing collision. Their efforts aim to ascertain the cause of the collision and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as further information becomes available.
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