Iron Complex - Rotary wing down - Four critical

A helicopter assigned to a Trinity County forest fire crashed and burned Tuesday night around 1945 hours, leaving 4 firefighting personnel in critical condition with burn injuries.. The crash site is about 15 miles northwest of Junction City in Trinity County.

The victims with burn injuries were flown by helicopter to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, according to medical dispatchers.

“We don’t know the extent of those injuries at this time,” Shasta-Trinity National Forest spokesman Mike Odle said Tuesday night.

The Sikorsky S-61 helicopter, which was assigned to the Iron Complex fires, went down at the north end of the 15,848-acre Buckhorn Fire.

The four fire crew members were brought to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, There was no word on the number of people on board the aircraft or what they were doing.

A Forest Service accident investigation team is expected at the crash site Wednesday.

News and notes:08-06 06:33

Helicopter crash on Shasta-Trinity National Forest

REDDING, Cal if. – A Sikorsky S-61 helicopter assigned to the Iron Complex on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest crashed this evening on the north end of the Buckhorn Fire, approximately 15 miles northwest of Junction City, Calif.

Forest Service officials first learned of the accident at approximately 7:45 p.m.

Four fire personnel were transported to Mercy Medical Center Redding and are listed in critical condition. Officials still have not confirmed the number of persons on board the helicopter.

A U.S. Forest Service Accident Investigation Team will respond tomorrow.

The Forest Service will hold a press conference tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the USDA Service Center, 3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding, Calif. A call-in number for media has been established at 1-877-707-5137. Participant Code: 397190#.