Two firefighters are dead after a plane they were in to respond to wildfires crashed at around noon on Saturday in Mohave County, Arizona, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
The firefighters were on board the aircraft helping to perform aerial reconnaissance and command and control over the Cedar Basin Fire, which has burned at least 300 acres near the small community of around 100 residents in Wikieup.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight with sincere condolences to families, loved ones and firefighters affected by this tragic aviation accident that occurred today in Arizona on the #CedarBasinFire,” the bureau tweeted. Additional information regarding the incident will be revealed pending next of kin notification.
Flames first ignited in Wikieup on Friday evening. The two firefighters were some of the earliest personnel to provide “eyes in the sky” to aid other firefighters dousing flames below, according to Dolores Garcia, a spokeswoman for the bureau who spoke with the Arizona Republic.
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Our hearts are heavy tonight with sincere condolences to families, loved ones and firefighters affected by this tragic aviation accident that occurred today in Arizona on the #CedarBasinFire. https://t.co/pXj2cCHDNX
— Bureau of Land Management Fire (@BLMFire) July 11, 2021
Nearly 45 additional firefighters were aiding the efforts against the Cedar Basin Fire this weekend, officials told the outlet.
One witness claimed she saw the plane go down “at a steep angle” before it hit the ground.
“I’m screaming on the phone, and ‘Oh my gosh. It just crashed. I can’t believe it,'” said Michele Machholz, a 54-year-old who lives nearly a half-mile away from the fire.
“I’m trying to tell my husband that this airplane just crashed, and there was this big black plume of giant black smoke,” she added.
The memory of these brave, selfless firefighters will live on. Arizona is deeply saddened by their loss, and grateful for their commitment to protecting others from Cedar Basin Fire. My condolences go to their families, loved ones, and fellow firefighters. https://t.co/wojqMdr2eO
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 11, 2021
“The memory of these brave, selfless firefighters will live on,” Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said in a statement on Sunday about the firefighters who died.
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The crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, a spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
The fire in Mohave County, which borders southern Nevada and California, comes as Golden State Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded a drought emergency proclamation on Thursday and urged 58 counties in the state to cut water consumption by 15%.
