| Editor’s note: Seven firefighters for Grayback Forestry, a pilot for Carson Helicopters and a U.S. Forest Service inspection pilot died in August when their helicopter crashed on takeoff. It was ferrying crew members from the fire lines in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. In the following article, Grayback Forestry President Michael Wheelock talks about the tragedy and the days that followed. |
9 feared dead following Calif. fire helicopter crash
FireRescue1’s Year in Review 2008
By Michael Wheelock
President Grayback Forestry, Inc.
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The helicopter went down on a remote mountain top August 5 about 7:30 p.m. Good communication about what had happened was difficult to get, and as in most crises, the initial information was incomplete and not totally correct. We would not know how bad it was until the next morning.
About two hours after the crash, I got a call from Milt Coyle, Merlin/Medford Base Manager in charge of all the crews out of Medford and Merlin. We were originally told that three people had been injured, one fairly seriously and two others with minor injuries.
We began to contact the three families and offered to fly them down on a small jet to the different hospitals. One injured firefighter’s family flew down with me that evening while the others drove down the next morning.
Early the next morning, I started to get calls that there may have been further injuries, even fatalities. Around 8:30 a.m. we received the call that no supervisor or department head ever wants to get — that fatalities were confirmed. At that time, we implemented our full crisis management plan and assigned company liaisons to each of the families. Our focus was supporting our surviving crews, the families of the deceased and injured and our employees through the shock and grief of this tragedy.
We worked really closely with all the relevant agencies. We set up a command center in the Medford facility and converted our training room into a memorial for the families. We helped transport and lodge the families so that they could support each other.
Sharing stories
The first day was a time of sharing stories. We brought in the other 10 of the crew members who shared stories about their sons as firefighters and friends.
It was very healing time for the families involved. The following day, we brought the families back and told them all the information we had about what had happened. The Wildland Firefighter Foundation also came along side us to help the families with the grieving process, funeral arrangements, and so many other details. We provided Chaplains from Chaplains of America to comfort the crews as they were demobbed and returned to base. We also provided critical incident debriefings and support services to all of our employees at all our locations
Storm King Mountain survivor Kim Lightley spoke at an employee meeting. She described her experiences and the healing process we have to go through when we lose our friends and co-workers.
On August 15, federal and state agencies , Carson Helicopters and Grayback Forestry held a tribute to those fallen at the Jackson County Amphitheater. About 4,000 people, including representatives from the federal, state, city and wildland fire communities and the general public, paid their respects.
I remember sitting up on the stage and looking at the crowd, and seeing all the different array of colors and groups. It was very touching to see how the fire community came together to honor the people who lost their lives. They were a fine group of firefighters who gave their all and “Held the Line” before giving the ultimate sacrifice. We will always miss them.
Our company, right from the beginning, said we were going to take care of the families and employees. We wanted to do what was right. And we did the best we could.
Looking back, you always think there are some things you could’ve done better, but the priority for us was always putting the families and the employees first.