CDF Firefighter & pilot killed in crash

[fm_emt]

"In California, a pilot and firefighter were killed Wednesday when their Department of Forestry and Fire Protection plane crashed as they fought a fire in the remote Tulare County foothills, about 70 miles southeast of Fresno, authorities said.

The victims were identified as George Willett, 52, a Hanford pilot contracted to help battle the fire, and CDF Battalion Chief Robert Paul Stone, 36, of Visalia."

Longer article here. It's about halfway down. This is the first that I heard of it. Usually big deals with the CDF make our local news.

 

[Jon]

Bummer. Wildland aircraft have been dropping out of the sky a lot in recent years. Part of that may be an aging fleet of aircraft, or it could be pilot training/error, or any number of other factors.

 

[cmitchell93270]

i lived not to far form there, they were turning around to scout a fire and crashed, prayers go out to their families. but the good news when they catch the people who started the fire they'll be charged with murder or the two.