Latest news with #HillsFire
India Today
09-05-2025
- India Today
California to pay $15 million to family of pilot killed in 2020 wildfire crash
Michael Fournier's family, whose tragic death occurred while battling a wildfire in 2020, has secured a $15 million settlement from the aviation maintenance firm involved, their lawyer announced on 52, was conducting water drops over rocky ground in Fresno County on August 19, 2020, when his Bell UH-1H helicopter crashed. He was helping to fight the Hills Fire, about 10 miles south of Coalinga in Central Failure Blamed for Fatal Incident According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the accident was caused by a failure in the helicopter's hydraulic system. Moments before the crash, Fournier reportedly radioed air traffic control, warning of hydraulic reported by the Associated Press, the helicopter had been serviced by Rotorcraft Support, Inc., which has now agreed to the multi-million dollar settlement. Fournier worked for Guardian Helicopters, a private firm that had been hired by Cal Fire for aerial firefighting Andrew Robb, representing the Fournier family, said the lawsuit was aimed to securing justice and accountability. "The Fournier family's lawsuit sought accountability and answers, and this outcome does just that," Robb said. The family has not commented publicly on the Support, the business that was charged with maintaining the helicopter, had not returned messages for comment as of reported by AP, after the crash it took almost four hours for a Fresno County Sheriff's Department search and rescue crew to arrive at the isolated crash site. Fourteen rescuers drove Jeeps through several miles of bumpy terrain in thick smoke before continuing on foot for the last the crash, it reportedly took nearly four hours for Fresno County Sheriff's Department search and rescue teams to reach the remote crash site. Fourteen rescuers used Jeeps to navigate rugged terrain through thick smoke before continuing on foot to the wreckage. Once on site, the team respectfully wrapped Fournier's remains in an American flag and carried him from the sceneThe tragic loss of Michael Fournier underscores the dangers firefighting pilots face and highlights the urgent need for strict aircraft safety and maintenance Read: John Cena returns in 'Peacemaker' Season 2 trailer packed With DC Cameos
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Family of a helicopter pilot killed in a California wildfire reaches a $15 million settlement
The family of a helicopter pilot who died when his helicopter crashed in 2020 while fighting a wildfire in Southern California reached a $15 million settlement with the company that maintained the aircraft, their attorneys said Friday. Michael Fournier was making water drops on Aug. 19, 2020 over hilly, rugged terrain when his bright red Bell UH-1H copter suddenly plunged into a hillside as he was helping battle the Hills Fire burning 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of the small Central Valley town of Coalinga. Fournier worked for a private Southern California company that contracts with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, and other agencies to provide firefighting aircraft and other services. 'The Fournier family's lawsuit sought answers and accountability, and this result does just that,' said Andrew Robb, one of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit. Robb said the family would not be making any public comments. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board's concluded that the helicopter crashed because of 'a hydraulic system failure.' Moments before the crash Fournier radioed to air traffic control that he was having trouble with the helicopter's hydraulics, Robb said. Fournier was working with Guardian Helicopters, which is based in Fillmore, California and at the time had a contract with Cal Fire to provide emergency services. The settlement was paid by Rotorcraft Support, Inc., the company that maintained the helicopter. A phone message left with the helicopter maintenance company was not immediately returned Friday. Fournier's copter went down in a remote, hilly, smoke-filled area that took a Fresno County Sheriff's Department search and rescue team nearly four hours to reach. Fourteen team members in five Jeeps traveled for miles through soft dirt under smoke-filled skies, finally abandoning the vehicles to walk the last several hundred yards to the crash site. There, they carefully wrapped the body in an American flag and carried it to one of the vehicles.
09-05-2025
- General
Family of a helicopter pilot killed in a California wildfire reaches a $15 million settlement
LOS ANGELES -- The family of a helicopter pilot who died when his helicopter crashed in 2020 while fighting a wildfire in Southern California reached a $15 million settlement with the company that maintained the aircraft, their attorneys said Friday. Michael Fournier was making water drops on Aug. 19, 2020 over hilly, rugged terrain when his bright red Bell UH-1H copter suddenly plunged into a hillside as he was helping battle the Hills Fire burning 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of the small Central Valley town of Coalinga. Fournier worked for a private Southern California company that contracts with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, and other agencies to provide firefighting aircraft and other services. 'The Fournier family's lawsuit sought answers and accountability, and this result does just that,' said Andrew Robb, one of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit. Robb said the family would not be making any public comments. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board's concluded that the helicopter crashed because of 'a hydraulic system failure.' Moments before the crash Fournier radioed to air traffic control that he was having trouble with the helicopter's hydraulics, Robb said. Fournier was working with Guardian Helicopters, which is based in Fillmore, California and at the time had a contract with Cal Fire to provide emergency services. The settlement was paid by Rotorcraft Support, Inc., the company that maintained the helicopter. A phone message left with the helicopter maintenance company was not immediately returned Friday. Fournier's copter went down in a remote, hilly, smoke-filled area that took a Fresno County Sheriff's Department search and rescue team nearly four hours to reach. Fourteen team members in five Jeeps traveled for miles through soft dirt under smoke-filled skies, finally abandoning the vehicles to walk the last several hundred yards to the crash site. There, they carefully wrapped the body in an American flag and carried it to one of the vehicles.
Toronto Star
09-05-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
Family of a helicopter pilot killed in a California wildfire reaches a $15 million settlement
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The family of a helicopter pilot who died when his helicopter crashed in 2020 while fighting a wildfire in Southern California reached a $15 million settlement with the company that maintained the aircraft, their attorneys said Friday. Michael Fournier was making water drops on Aug. 19, 2020 over hilly, rugged terrain when his bright red Bell UH-1H copter suddenly plunged into a hillside as he was helping battle the Hills Fire burning 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of the small Central Valley town of Coalinga.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Family of a helicopter pilot killed in a California wildfire reaches a $15 million settlement
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The family of a helicopter pilot who died when his helicopter crashed in 2020 while fighting a wildfire in Southern California reached a $15 million settlement with the company that maintained the aircraft, their attorneys said Friday. Michael Fournier was making water drops on Aug. 19, 2020 over hilly, rugged terrain when his bright red Bell UH-1H copter suddenly plunged into a hillside as he was helping battle the Hills Fire burning 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of the small Central Valley town of Coalinga. Fournier worked for a private Southern California company that contracts with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, and other agencies to provide firefighting aircraft and other services. 'The Fournier family's lawsuit sought answers and accountability, and this result does just that,' said Andrew Robb, one of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit. Robb said the family would not be making any public comments. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board's concluded that the helicopter crashed because of 'a hydraulic system failure.' Moments before the crash Fournier radioed to air traffic control that he was having trouble with the helicopter's hydraulics, Robb said. Fournier was working with Guardian Helicopters, which is based in Fillmore, California and at the time had a contract with Cal Fire to provide emergency services. The settlement was paid by Rotorcraft Support, Inc., the company that maintained the helicopter. A phone message left with the helicopter maintenance company was not immediately returned Friday. Fournier's copter went down in a remote, hilly, smoke-filled area that took a Fresno County Sheriff's Department search and rescue team nearly four hours to reach. Fourteen team members in five Jeeps traveled for miles through soft dirt under smoke-filled skies, finally abandoning the vehicles to walk the last several hundred yards to the crash site. There, they carefully wrapped the body in an American flag and carried it to one of the vehicles.
