Collision between helicopters fighting fire leaves three dead in California

The helicopters were deployed to help control a fire in Cabazon, about 130 miles east of Los Angeles, and collided on Sunday night, according to the region's fire chief, David Fulcher, at a news conference.

“The first helicopter managed to land safely nearby. Unfortunately, the second helicopter crashed and the three passengers died”, he detailed.

Among the victims are two firefighters – a department head and a captain – and the pilotthe contractor.

According to authorities, the fire started in a building and spread over more than one hectare, requiring the intervention of a fleet of six aircraft, including the two involved in the collision.

The helicopter that landed was a Sikorsky Skycrane, carrying liquid, water and a fire retardant chemical to smother the flames, authorities said.

What crashed was a Bell that was carrying out observation and coordination activities to fight the fire, they added.

Authorities responsible for transportation safety in the United States have begun an investigation into the accident.

The collision happened 11 months after the crash of another fire helicopter, which left three injured a few kilometers from Cabazon.

Plagued by drought for more than two decades, the western United States is especially vulnerable to fires, which have intensified in recent years. The increase in the frequency and intensity of fires has increased because of global warming.

California firefighters fight thousands of fires every year. Some are very large, like the one that occurred near the city of Fresno, which has already destroyed more than 2 hectares of vegetation, according to the California Department of Fire.

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