Helicopter battling Dome Fire crashes in Yosemite National Park leaving 2 dead

A helicopter helping to battle the Dome Fire has crashed in Yosemite National Park with two people on board, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Eurocopter AS32 helicopter reportedly went down shortly before 3 p.m. Sunday in Mariposa while on water bucket drops.

Read more SF schools chief faces teacher, parent backlash over Salesforce-backed tech push

In a preliminary report, the FAA listed two fatalities linked to the crash.No cause of the crash has been released, and the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident. It’s unclear if the helicopter was operated by Cal Fire or another agency.

The crash comes as over 500 firefighting personnel have arrived at Yosemite National Park to battle the blaze, which erupted last week near the popular destination of Wawona. The fire expanded over the weekend and has burned 3,022 acres.

Jay C. Nichols, a spokesperson with the U.S. National Forest Service, said there are more firefighting personnel expected to arrive on scene this week. Nichols said the remote area of the fire means no bulldozers or fire trucks are being used to fight the blaze. Firefighters are relying mainly on hand tools and aerial support to combat the fire. 

Read more Drew Gilbert’s homer and 2-run single lead Giants past Twins 5-2 to end 3-game losing streak

Nichols said part of the fire is burning in areas scorched in the 2017 Empire Fire. That can increase hazards for firefighters as dead, standing trees called snags can burn more easily and topple.

“Some of those areas are pretty hazardous for firefighters,” he told SFGATE.

The fire is currently 15% contained, and moderate air quality is expected for Yosemite National Park due to the smoke.

This is a developing story.