Yosemite Blog

Air Tanker Pilot Killed Fighting Dog Rock Fire

edgarm91-414534867553044749_201290209

A CalFire Air tanker pilot was killed yesterday afternoon after his plane crashed while fighting the Dog Rock fire in Yosemite.

California Highway Patrol Sgt. Chris Michael told The Associated Press said he was stopping traffic along state Route 140 at the Arch Rock entrance to the park about 4:24 p.m. when he witnessed the crash.

“I heard a large explosion, I looked up on the steep canyon wall and saw aircraft debris was actually raining down the side of the mountain after the impact,” Michael said. “It hit the steep side of the canyon wall. It appeared from the direction he was going, he was trying to make a drop down the side of the canyon when he hit the canyon wall.”

Cal Fire said the tanker was based out of the Hollister Air Attack Base. The pilot’s name has not been released pending notification of the family.

Our hearts and sympathies go out to the family of the pilot.

Photo by @Edgarm91 via Instagram

Posted

in

,

by

lbschutte

Tags:

, , ,

Comments

6 responses to “Air Tanker Pilot Killed Fighting Dog Rock Fire”