Firefighting helicopter makes emergency landing in lake during Lava Fire in Calif.

The pilot was able to escape unharmed after landing in Lake Shastina near the town of Weed

July 08, 2021 10:25 AM

A helicopter passes a smoke plume while battling the Lava Fire in Weed, Calif., on Thursday, July 1, 2021. Firefighters are battling multiple fires in the region following high temperatures and lightning strikes.

Sam Stanton
The Sacramento Bee

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A contract helicopter fighting the Lava Fire near the Northern California city of Weed made an emergency landing in Lake Shastina on Wednesday afternoon, but the pilot was able to escape unharmed, the U.S. Forest Service said.

There were no injuries or damages caused by the incident in Siskiyou County, and the pilot was able to either swim or walk to safety from the lake, according to Forest Service spokesman Jose Acosta.

“The helicopter pilot apparently didn’t want to be taken to the hospital,” Acosta said.

The aircraft was among the teams of 990 firefighting personnel battling the Lava Fire, which was sparked by a lightning strike June 24 and had burned 25,002 acres as of late Wednesday. Forest Service officials said the fire is now 72% contained and that officials are hoping for full containment by Monday.

https://twitter.com/ShastaTrinityNF/status/1412418439495495680

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Helicopter Crash Safety Wildfire Wildland-Urban Interface