Oak Fire expands in California; 2 pilots died in the Idaho Moose Fire
Multiple wildfires broke out in the US on Saturday, causing damage to people, evacuations and damage to structures.
A new wildfire that has destroyed at least 10 structures near Yosemite National Park prompted evacuations Friday. And authorities announced that two pilots of a fire-fighting helicopter were killed after the plane crashed amid a fire in Idaho.
Thomas Hayes, 41, of Post Falls, Idaho, and Jared Bird, 36, of Anchorage, Alaska, died after their helicopter crashed in the Salmon River around 4:45 p.m. Thursday, said Mary Cernicek, spokeswoman. member of the Salmon-Challis National Forest, told USA TODAY.
Both pilots were transported to a nearby hospital, where they died of their injuries, according to the incident report by the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office.
Meanwhile, a fire broke out Friday near Yosemite as firefighters battled an earlier fire that threatened a famous grove of giant Sequoia trees.
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Pilot dies fighting Moose Fire
Cernicek said the two pilots killed in the crash were contracted to help fight the Moose Fire.
More than 700 firefighters were battling the blaze Saturday morning as it burned about 21 miles north of SalmonIdaho, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
A red flag warning was issued Saturday as high temperatures, low humidity and high winds threaten to exacerbate the fire, which has spread more than 45 square miles on Saturday morning.
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According to an incident report from the center, nine helicopters assisted ground crews with water droplets on Friday.
ROTAK Helicopter Service is based in Anchorage, where the pilots killed were employed, confirmed in a statement that a CH-47D series “Chinook” helicopter it operated was involved in an accident near Salmon, Idaho.
Cernicek from Salmon-Challis National Forest said the National Transportation Safety Board was investigating the cause of the crash.
Idaho Governor Brad Little has ordered that all flags of the United States and the State of Idaho be flying on friday half staff in honor of the two pilots killed in the helicopter crash.
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Yosemite forest fire caused people to evacuate, damaged structures
A wildfire that broke out on Friday is spreading rapidly, forcing residents to evacuate and damaging at least 10 structures. according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The Oak Fire, which started southwest of Yosemite near the Midpines of Mariposa County, has burned more than 10.2 square miles and is down to just 0% Saturday morning, Cal Fire said.
Lushmeadows, a subdivision of about 1,700 residents in the Sierra Nevada foothills, was subject to a mandatory evacuation order.
Firefighters make progress on other Yosemite flames
The Oak Fire erupted as firefighters made significant progress against the Washburn Fire, which burned from Yosemite National Park into the Sierra National Forest, threatens Mariposa Grove, home to hundreds of giant snakes.
The Washburn Fire is 79% contains Saturday morning after it burned nearly 7.6 square miles. After starting July 7, the fire forced the closure of Yosemite’s south entrance and led to the evacuation of hundreds of people in the Wawona community.
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The US Forest Service also announced plans on Friday to do so Urgent action to save giant Sequoias threatened by increasingly intense wildfires, exacerbated by climate change and aggressive fire suppression methods. The plan will accelerate bush clearing projects in forests that have sparked fires raging near the world’s largest trees.
Contribution: Associated Press
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