Wildfires this year continue to claim firefighters' lives.
The nine killed in the helicopter crash in California on Tuesday night brings to 16 the number of wildland fire-related fatalities this year, according to USFA statistics.
The Sikorsky S-61 helicopter crashed near the north end of the so-called Buckhorn Fire during takeoff at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The crash site is located in the California's Trinity Alps Wilderness in the vicinity of USNG: 10T EL 23 41.
Eleven firefighters died in 2007 while engaged in or responding to wildland fires.
The report shows that the only aircraft firefighting death of 2007 occurred when a helicopter hit trees during a supply drop-off operation. The pilot was killed.
Also, there were no multiple firefighter fatality incidents involving wildland battles in 2007, for only the second year in over a decade.
In 2006, 22 firefighters were killed while battling wildfires, while 19 were killed in 2005; 21 in 2004; 30 in 2003 and 23 in 2002, the USFA reported.
All those killed aboard the helicopter, including the pilot, will be counted by the USFA.
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