Fatal Accident During Routine Training at The Backbone Helibase
Incident: Backbone Wildfire
Released: 7/21/2009
NEWS RELEASE
U.S. Forest Service â National Incident Management Organization - Atlanta
Klamath National Forest
1312 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097 â Voice (530) 842-6131 â Web: www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding, CA 96002 â Voice (530) 226-2500 â Web: www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity
Six Rivers National Forest
1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA 95501 â Voice (707) 442-1721 â Web: www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers
Release No. FS-07 21 09 (2) July 21, 2009
Fire Information: 530-629-2816
Email: backbone.fire.info@gmail.com www.inciweb.org/incident/1716/
Fatal Accident During Routine Training At the Backbone Helibase
WILLOW CREEK, Calif. - During a routine training exercise an individual was involved in an accident Tuesday morning. A Helicopter and its crew, who are assigned to the Backbone Fire, was conducting weekly skill proficiency acceptance training and was involved in an accident that took an individuals life.
At 10:10 this morning while performing a proficiency skill acceptance training, at the Backbone Helibase in Willow Creek, an individual fell and incurred fatal injuries. The training is required to be conducted weekly to insure the crew's safety and proficiency.
Information is limited at this time and all names of individuals involved are being with held until notifications to families have been made. We will be happy to provide information as soon as it is available.
The individual was provided medical attention immediately at the scene. The Base medical staff, the Humboldt County Coroner's Office, and the Humboldt County Sherriff's Office were dispatched and involved in the initial response.
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