Two helicopter pilots who died in a crash while battling the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park over the weekend have been identified.
Greg King of Palmer, Alaska, and Ryan Cutter of Park City, Utah, died in the Mariposa County crash on Sunday, Sept. 20, according their employer, Oregon-based helicopter contractor Precision and local media reports from their respective hometowns.
"Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. These two men deserve every single one of them, as do their families and friends," the company said in a written statement. "These two men brought honor to the mission. Their dedication and service will never be forgotten. Rest in peace."
The Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma helicopter the men were flying went down near Mariposa
about 2:55 p.m., according to the FAA. The agency, along with the National Transportation Safety Board, is investigating the cause and circumstances of the crash.
Who was Greg King?
Loved ones rallied to honor the two pilots' memories and support the families they left behind.
The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection recalled King as "a cherished member of our wildland fire family, having served on wildland fires in Alaska and extensively alongside the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection," the agency said in a written statement.
"King’s ties to our agency run deep, with close loved ones currently employed with our Division," the agency said. "This is a devastating loss for our agency and the entire wildland firefighting community."
Colleagues in Alaska described King as "a dedicated aviator and a dear friend to many of us."
"We are mourning both pilots who bravely supported firefighting efforts, and our hearts go out to their families," the statement said. "We are standing alongside our staff and Greg’s loved ones as we grieve this profound tragedy together."
Who was Ryan Cutter?
In addition to being a skilled pilot, loved ones described Cutter as a dedicated family man.
"He was a deeply loved husband, son, friend, and godfather," according to a statement accompanying an online memorial established to aid his family.
"As we process this loss, our primary focus is supporting his wonderful wife, Nina, as she navigates these next steps," the statement said. "Grief is a heavy burden to carry alone. Right now, Nina is facing this painful chapter far away from the core support system she needs most."
Prior to working as a firefighting pilot, Cutter was the pilot of "Sky 2" for KUTV 2 News in Salt Lake City in the 2000s and early 2010s, according to the organization.
The Dome Fire
The Dome Fire ignited Tuesday morning, Sept. 15, north of Yosemite's Wawona Dome, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
It had grown to more than 3,500 acres as of Tuesday, Sept. 22.
More than 780 firefighting personnel assigned to the blaze have established containment lines around 15% of the flames.
The cause remained under investigation.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Helicopter pilots killed battling Dome Fire near Yosemite identified
