Trending Topics

CAL FIRE contractors killed in plane crash

The two Amentum employees were on their way to repair a CAL FIRE helicopter when the crash occurred

By Bill Carey
FireRescue1

KNEELAND, Calif. — A plane that departed from McClellan Park in Sacramento County crashed in Humboldt County, resulting in the deaths of two CAL FIRE contractors.

According to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the single-engine plane went down in a steep ravine north of Kneeland Airport airstrip on July 23, KCRA reported.

CAL FIRE reported that the two individuals on board were employees of Amentum, an aviation company contracted to provide and maintain aircraft for CAL FIRE’s firefighting operations.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.

Trending
The union unanimously censured Gov. Abigail Spanberger after she vetoed legislation that would have expanded collective bargaining rights for firefighters, EMS personnel and other public employees
UC Merced researchers found the share of homes destroyed after wildfire exposure rose from about 3% to 18% over two decades despite efforts to harden properties
Hambden Township officials face scrutiny over financial oversight of a fire department that receives nearly $800,000 a year in public funding
Euclid Fire Department handled more than 13,000 incidents in 2025, with EMS calls accounting for most of its workload as officials seek to keep ambulances available for emergencies