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.
The crash Sunday afternoon in the desert 85 miles (137 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 were killed,” David Fulcher, head 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.
Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department resources were dispatched to a structure fire near the intersection of Broadway Street and South Ronda Avenue in the Cabazon community shortly after 6 p.m. That fire spread to surrounding vegetation and a full wildfire dispatch was started, including multiple aircraft and helicopters.
Cal Fire reported on social media at the time that the fire was burning “on light, bold fuels with a moderate rate of spread.”
While fighting 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 explained. The Sikorsky can spew water or fire retardant. It is unknown if the aircraft was loaded at the time of the accident.
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