Tragedy struck in Cabazon, Southern California, on a late Sunday night as two helicopters involved in firefighting operations collided, resulting in the loss of three lives. CalFire Southern Region Chief David Fulcher delivered the somber news during a press conference, revealing that the victims included a contracted pilot, a CalFire division chief, and a CalFire captain.
The accident occurred while the helicopters were actively combating the Broadway Fire, which had originated from a structure fire that spread to nearby vegetation. Firefighters responded promptly to the scene around 6 p.m., when the Broadway Fire had already consumed roughly three acres. Nevertheless, their swift action and collaborative efforts managed to contain the fire’s spread by shortly after 7 p.m., as confirmed in a joint statement on Twitter by CalFire and the Riverside County Fire Department.
