Nine firefighters died today as a military helicopter

[malaise]

crashed in California. Four others survived with serious burns and other injuries.

Rest in peace you good men.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/06/BA0P1267AA.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
<snip>
In one of the deadliest firefighting incidents in U.S. history, nine firefighters are dead and four were seriously injured after their helicopter went down Tuesday night while battling a blaze in remote Trinity County, northwest of Redding, authorities said today.

The National Transportation Safety Board announced this afternoon that it had dispatched a special investigation team to the crash site in a remote, wooded area near Junction City.

Cynthia Sage, with the U.S. Department of Forestry, said the accident happened about 7:45 p.m. as the helicopter was ferrying firefighters back to a staging area after they had been working on the Trinity fire.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Such a heartbreaking loss. May their families find some peace in the knowledge that these brave men

lost their lives trying to save the lives of others.
:cry:

[bluesmail]

2. They really worked their asses off.

[KamaAina]

3. Minor correction: Chopper privately owned, not military

come to think of it, ANG choppers are probably busy fighting fires in Eye-rack so we don't have to fight 'em here. :sarcasm:

The aircraft had a crew of two, both employees of Carson Helicopters of Grants Pass, Ore., and was carrying 11 firefighters. The pilot is among the injured and the co-pilot is listed as missing and presumed dead....

The firefighters worked for a private contracting company, Greyback Forestry, headquartered in Merlin, Ore. No one from Greyback was available for comment. Greyback lost four firefighters in 2002 when the van they were in overturned on its way to fight a fire in Colorado.

[malaise]

5. Thanks -too late to edit n/t

[hack89]

6. California National Guard helos have been very busy fighting fires.

http://www.calguard.ca.gov/publicaffairs/Pages/Operation%20Lightning%20Strike/JTF_Sentinel_AirOps.aspx

[lonestarnot]

4. Oh no!

:cry: That just breaks my fucking heart! :cry:

[XOKCowboy]

7. My hat is off to those firefighters

They do an incredible job. Thanks and RIP.