2 firefighters killed as plane goes down while surveying fire
Two firefighters were killed on Saturday after a plane crashed to respond to a wildfire crash in Mohave County, local media reported.
The Arizona Bureau of Land Management told KPHO-TV that the aircraft that helped conduct aerial reconnaissance and command and control over the burning Cedar Basin fire near Wikup, a small community of about 100, crashed around noon.
Officials told KPHO and the Arizona Republic that the two crew members aboard the ship were not alive.
Dolores García, a spokeswoman for the bureau, told Republic that the aerial reconnaissance demonstration aircraft helps direct aviation resources to respond to wildfires.
Garcia said these firefighters were among the first to respond to the wildfires.
The Cedar Basin fire has burned 300 acres (121 ha) because of lightning. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.
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