Two people were killed when a helicopter assisting firefighters battling the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park, California, crashed Sunday afternoon, federal officials said.
The helicopter went down in Mariposa County at about 2:55 p.m. while supporting firefighting operations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Two people were aboard the aircraft.
Aerospace company Precision confirmed that two members of its crew were killed in the crash. The company expressed condolences to their families and requested privacy as the investigation continues.
Crash happened during Dome Fire response
The helicopter had been assigned to assist crews fighting the Dome Fire, which began September 15 in Yosemite.
The fire had burned more than 3,000 acres and was reported at about 15% containment in the latest updates. Firefighters have been working in steep and rugged terrain while using aircraft to support suppression operations.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash, with the FAA also involved.
Authorities have not released the identities of the two people killed or determined what caused the helicopter to crash.
The investigation is ongoing.
