Zaca Fire ‘Copter Crashes

Two Escape with Minor Injuries; Other Aircraft Grounded in Late Afternoon

Closeup of the Zaca Fire chopper crash, where two people were transported by ambulance to the hospital with minor injuries.

At 4:07 Sunday afternoon a contract helicopter being used to fight the Zaca Fire in Los Padres National Forest crashed in field off Figueroa Mountain Road. The field was being used as a fire helicopter staging area.

Both pilot and passenger were transported by ground ambulance to Santa Ynez Hospital for evaluation. Injuries to both appear to be minor. According to Nick Cleary, a Ventura County Public Information Officer fielding questions at the crash site, the cause of the crash has not been determined.The accident occurred as the helicopter was taking off.

After the injured were removed from the fallen copter, fire personnel doused it with foam. Immediately following the crash all air support for the Zaca Fire was recalled to the base camp and grounded for the night.