Courtesy of KSTU (FOX 13) Utah
Courtesy of KSTU (FOX 13) Utah
Capt. Todd Neal Tompkins (Courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Office)
First Officer Ronnie Edwin Chambless (Courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Office)Two air tanker crew members died in a plane crash in southwestern Utah near the Nevada border Sunday.
Iron County police say a Forest Service-contracted P-2V heavy air tanker was dropping retardant on the White Rock fire before crashing in Hamblin Valley around 1 p.m.
Victims have been identified as Capt. Todd Neal Tompkins and First Officer Ronnie Edwin Chambless, both of Boise, Idaho.
Fire was first reported around 10 p.m. on Friday in Lincoln County, Nev. By Saturday evening, it had spread nearly 5,000 acres and across the state line into Iron County, Utah. Police say it was caused by lightning.
The plane and its crew were making their second run of the day. Police believe the plane held approximately 1600 gallons of fuel on board as well as over 2000 gallons of fire retardant. The plane was nearing the fire when it crashed over the fire line and in the pathway of the oncoming fire.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District is working on putting out the White Rock fire. It is expected to be fully contained by Saturday evening, June 9.
Stay with FOX5 with updates on this breaking story.
Copyright 2012 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.
