Cal Fire air tanker based in Hollister crashes, pilot killed

A Cal Fire Grumman S-2T air tanker assisting with the fire fight near Yosemite crashed Tuesday afternoon, killing the pilot.

CalFire spokesman Richard Lopez has confirmed that the air tanker was based in Hollister and the pilot was killed in the crash. The pilot was the only crew member on board and the crash site has been found.

“We don’t like to call anything routine, But it was – he was going to another fire and you know, like normal just before cut off or at cut off before it gets dark, they always come home,” said Lopez of CalFire’s San Benito-Monterey division. “Once they (fire crews) got the call, they were just totally devastated.”

CalFire has grounded its remaining fleet of Grumman air tankers after this incident.

State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Alyssa Smith said Wednesday the agency normally does such a safety stand-down after a crash.

It was not clear how long the planes would be out of service.

The agency has about 22 S-2T air tankers. Smith said other aircraft are still available to assist with fires.

The downed aircraft was one of 23 operated by CalFire around the state. The pilot was contracted through DynCorp International.

Hollister had two air tankers. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will now work hand-in-hand with CalFire to investigate what happened.

“So they’re a private employee but they’re considered family. Everybody sits together, everybody sleeps together, we’re a family,” said Lopez. “Just because they’re a private contractor, doesn’t make them any different.”

The wildland fire is burning in steep terrain on the boundary of Yosemite. 60 homes have been evacuated in the community of Foresta. Currently, the fire has burned over 130 acres.

Highway 140 at El Portal has been closed as the fire is burning close to the road and the Arch Rock entrance to the park. El Portal Road between the park boundary and the junction with the Big Oak Flat Road is closed due to the fire. Access to Yosemite Valley is available via Highway 41 and 120.