US: Two Pilots Killed in Helicopter Crash While Fighting Wildfires in California

Two pilots were killed on Sunday after a helicopter supporting firefighting operations for the Dome fire, which broke out in California’s Yosemite National Park, crashed, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, which reported the incident on Monday.

The aircraft crashed at approximately 2:55 p.m. local time (21:55 UTC) in Mariposa County while carrying two people, the agency said.

Meanwhile, the National Park Service confirmed on Monday that 15 percent of the Dome fire had been contained. It noted that the fire was first reported on September 15 near Chinnawna Falls in the Wawona area, leading to the closure of some trails and remote wilderness areas, although Yosemite National Park remained open to visitors.