News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

The Lillooet RCMP are asssisting the Ministry of Forests and Lands Wildfire Protection Branch at the Jade Mountain Widlfire in the Yalakom Valley near Lillooet with the recovery of the occupants involved in a helicopter crash earlier today at approximately 12:20pm today.

(Photo:  File photo of non-related helicopter scooping water from Chimney Lake on July 28 for the wildfire near 140 Mile House, BC)

"Both the pilot in command, a highly experienced male aged 61 from Vernon and his male co-pilot aged 27 from Abbotsford BC are alive, but the extent of their injuries is not known at this time. However, both were conscious at the time they were extracted from the helicopter, advised Transwest Helicopters President and CEO Ernst-Ulrich Maas.  "The families of both pilots have been informed of their involvement in this incident."

The preliminary information that can be confirmed is that the helicopter, a Bell 214B operated by Transwest Helicopters Ltd, was conducting water bucketing on the Jade Mountain Wildfire at an active edge of the fire area near Porcupine Creek, when it went down.

A second helicopter was in the immediate area and observed the incident and was able to immediately relay the incident information in order to activate an emergency extraction of the injured crew.  The pilot and co-pilot received stabilizing first aid at the crash site and were air lifted to Lillooet to an awaiting BC Air Ambulance in order to evacuate them by air to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops for full assessment of their injuries and condition.   

“Extraction crews worked very quickly in getting to the two men and moving them out of further harms way, given the danger that the crash location posed. It was essentially at the fire’s edge in a very highly active fire area. Although a somber reminder of the inherent risk involved in the carrying out of these fire fighting duties all agencies and the community at large were relieved to hear that the two men were recovered injured but alive, were all very thankful for that,” stated Corporal Dan Moskaluk.

“The investigation of the crash will be conducted by Transport Canada with the assistance of the agencies involved. Given the location of the crash and the unpredictability of the fire activity, it remains to be seen as to what exactly will remain of the site and the machine” added Corporal Dan Moskaluk.

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