Firefighter Mike Fournier, 52 Died in helicopter Crash in California
Firefighter helicopter pilot Mike Fournier (52) of Rancho Cucamonga was killed fighting fires in california when his helicopter crashed. He was the only one on the aircraft.
Official Report from Fresno Sheriff’s office:
8/20/20 – The identity of the helicopter pilot killed while fighting a wildfire in Coalinga on Wednesday is confirmed. He is Michael John Fournier, 52, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
8/19/20 – Wednesday morning a Call When Needed (CWN) helicopter crashed while fighting a wildfire in western Fresno County. The Bell UH-1H helicopter, contracted through an outside company, was on a water dropping mission on the Hills Fire, approximately nine miles south of the City of Coalinga. Air and ground resources responded immediately to the crash site. The pilot, who was the only man on board, did not survive.
Around 11:15 am Wednesday, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team was requested to the area of S. Lost Hills Road and Sutter Ave. in Coalinga. Personnel were needed to search this rugged terrain and recover the body of the pilot. This occurred approximately 10 miles south of the city of Coalinga, west of Hwy. 33.
Our Search and Rescue (SAR) team consisted of 13 people, both deputies and volunteers. The volunteers we utilized make up our Jeep Rescue Unit, aka Jeepers. They brought out five jeeps. Also with SAR was one of our deputy coroners and a technician with our Crime Scene Unit, making it a total of 15 people. Around 4:30 pm, the jeeps caravanned in along a dirt path / fire line that a firefighting bulldozer had cut. The ride consisted of smoky filled air, hilly terrain, with powdery dirt. The jeeps were essential to make it through these conditions. Our team reached the end of the path and then had to hike a few hundred yards up a fairly steep hill with loose dirt, making it difficult to get their footing at times. They reached the wreckage site just before 8:00 pm. They draped an American flag over the victim then carried his body back to a jeep. SAR decided to bring the flag to honor this pilot for two reasons. One, he was on the front lines helping in an emergency. Two, we did not know if he was former military or law enforcement. We felt it was just the appropriate thing to do. Once the jeeps traveled back out to the main road, they met with our Coroner’s transport van around 11:00 pm. His body was then taken to our Coroner’s Office where we later made the official identity confirmation. Our deputy coroner has spoken with Fournier’s wife.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation and CAL FIRE/Fresno County Fire is assisting.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.