US firefighting helicopters collide, three dead.

In the US, two American firefighting helicopters collided while responding to a wildfire in California, killing three people on board one of the helicopters.

Two helicopters, a Sikorsky S-64E and a smaller Bell 407, collided on the afternoon of August 6 while fighting wildfires approximately 137 kilometers from Los Angeles, California. The Sikorsky landed safely, but the Bell crashed, killing all three people on board.

Regional fire department official David Fulcher said on August 7 that the Bell helicopter was used for observation and the Sikorsky was used to drop water bombs or fire retardants.

The victims in the helicopter crash were Assistant Fire Chief Josh Bischof, 46; Captain Cal Tim Rodriguez, 44; and pilot Tony Sousa, 55. Local fire officials said Bischof and Rodriguez had 24 and 19 years of service in the fire department, respectively.

The scene of the helicopter collision in California on August 7. Photo: AP

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said U.S. President Joe Biden sent his condolences to the families of the firefighters who died while bravely battling wildfires.

The California State Capitol building flew flags at half-mast in remembrance of the three victims.

"This horrific tragedy is a reminder of the dangers our brave firefighters face every day while performing their duty to keep our communities safe. We respect, are deeply grateful for, and will always honor their sacrifice," California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

The California Fire Department has its own fleet of approximately 60 helicopters and contracts with private companies for additional vehicles. Local officials say such firefighting helicopter collisions are rare. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.

Ngoc Anh (According to AP )

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