Key facts
- Two helicopter pilots died Sunday afternoon in Yosemite National Park.
- The pilots were battling the Dome Fire when their helicopter crashed.
- The crash occurred around 3 p.m. southeast of Ostrander Lake.
- The FAA and NTSB will investigate the crash.
Two helicopter pilots died Sunday afternoon when their aircraft crashed while dropping water on the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park. The helicopter went down southeast of Ostrander Lake around 3 p.m. The pilots were employed by contract firm Precision. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. The Dome Fire, which ignited on September 15, has burned over 3,000 acres and is approximately 15% contained, with 580 personnel fighting the blaze. This incident brings the total number of pilot deaths fighting wildfires this year to five, and the overall number of wildfire fatalities to 14.