Full Breakdown
Helicopter Crash During Dome Fire Suppression Efforts in Yosemite
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
A Eurocopter AS332L1 Super Puma helicopter operating a water-bucket drop for the Dome Fire crashed in a remote, federally designated wilderness area near Ostrander Lake. The aircraft was conducting firefighting drops when it went down on Sunday afternoon; both pilots on board were killed. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, and a memorial procession is planned to return the crew to Fresno Airport.
Fire Context
The Dome Fire ignited on Tuesday in the southern half of Yosemite National Park and has burned roughly 3,000 acres, remaining about 15 % contained. Fire agencies are using helicopters to deliver water, transport crews, and supply back-country hot-shot teams. One source reports roughly 580 personnel are fighting the blaze, while another notes 550 firefighters and 12 helicopters assigned on Monday, indicating a slight discrepancy in staffing figures. The fire is advancing at a moderate pace under mild winds and temperatures in the 50s-70s °F.
Official Statements & Responses
Ben Cossel, a spokesperson for the U.S. He added that crews were working to recover the victims and that a memorial procession would move the bodies through Mariposa to the Fresno airport. Precision, the McMinnville, Oregon-based contract helicopter operator, expressed profound grief over the loss of its two pilots and asked for privacy and compassion for the families and team members.
Data & Statistics
- Acreage burned: ~3,047 acres (15 % contained). – *source: Mercury News*
- Firefighting personnel: ~580 vs. 550. – *source: PBS; Mercury News*
- Helicopters on scene: 12 assigned.
- National wildfire fatalities in 2024: 14, the highest count since 2022. – *source: PBS*
Verbatim Quotes
- “It is with unimaginable sadness and broken hearts that we share the loss of two beloved members of our team,” — Precision