Mon, Jun 30, 2008
Forest Fire Sparked By Ensuing Post-Impact Fire
Fire and rescue crews continued to battle a 12-acre forest fire
sparked by the downing of a Piper Cherokee on the eastern side of
Mount Charleston, 20 miles northwest of North Las Vegas, in the
vicinity of the Echo Canyon recreation area.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the aircraft carrying
four departed from the North Las Vegas Airport at approximately
1430 local time headed to Byron, CA. At 1445, witnesses reported
seeing the aircraft clip power lines along a road after flying low
through the canyon and subsequently impacting in a wooded area at
the 7,000 foot level several hundred feet from homes.
"The plane came down very low through the Echo Canyon
residential area and topped off power poles and dropping power
lines," said Scott Allison of the Clark County Fire department.
The aircraft burst into flames and touched off a wildfire near
the Echo Subdivision of the mountain resort area. Rescue crews
responding to the scene reported all four aboard did not survive
the crash. Their names were not immediately available.
Fire officials said the fire quickly climbed the steep and
parched terrain of the Spring Mountain Recreation Area and came
within a half-mile of homes.
Residents of approximately 38 homes in the area were issued a
mandatory evacuation Saturday afternoon as the fire spread.
The wildfire was 40 percent contained by 1000 Sunday according
to Bureau of Land Management officials. Helicopter and fixed wing
air attack aircraft were being used to assist ground efforts to
control the fire in the rugged, dry slope. Crews hope to contain
the fire by late Sunday and allow residents to return if wind
conditions remain favorable.
Once the fire is contained, officials from the Federal Aviation
Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board at the
scene will continue an investigation into the cause.
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