NSW bushfire air tanker crash victims honoured at memorial service
4 years, 11 months ago

NSW bushfire air tanker crash victims honoured at memorial service

ABC  

Three Americans killed in an air tanker crash while fighting a bushfire in New South Wales have been described as heroes who "paid the ultimate sacrifice" during a memorial service in Sydney. Key points: The crew members were killed when their C-130 Large Air Tanker crashed near Cooma on January 23 They had completed 140 missions since they began working in Australia on December 1 The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it might not know the cause of the crash for quite some time Captain Ian McBeth, first officer Paul Hudson and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr died when their C-130 Large Air Tanker crashed while fighting a bushfire north-east of Cooma on January 23. NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told mourners the crew had completed more than 140 aerial firefighting missions since December 1 in what he described as "a truly traumatic season" with more than 2,300 homes destroyed, more than 5.3 million hectares destroyed and 25 lives lost. Mr Fitzsimmons presented the families with a NSW Commissioner's Commendation for Service for the men's "extraordinary contribution and ultimate sacrifice".

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Family of the three 'fallen heroes' who died when their water-bombing plane crashed arrive in Sydney
4 years, 11 months ago

Family of the three 'fallen heroes' who died when their water-bombing plane crashed arrive in Sydney

Daily Mail  

The devastated families of the three heroic Americans killed when their firefighting plane crashed in Australia have begun arriving in Sydney. The families of captain Ian McBeth, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr will be offered the chance to visit the crash site northeast of Cooma. An upset woman was seen being escorted through Sydney …

Military honours for US firefighters who died after plane crashed battling NSW fires
4 years, 11 months ago

Military honours for US firefighters who died after plane crashed battling NSW fires

ABC  

Police have recovered the bodies of three American aerial firefighters, as their extensive military service is honoured back in the United States. Key points: Investigators have gathered evidence, including the plane's black box, from the crash site in Numaralla It is believed their air tanker crashed shortly after releasing retardant over a blaze in Snowy Monaro on Thursday The body …

Six RFS volunteers suffer injuries after water tanker rolls on NSW South Coast
4 years, 11 months ago

Six RFS volunteers suffer injuries after water tanker rolls on NSW South Coast

ABC  

Six Rural Fire Service volunteers have been injured when a water tanker rolled while fighting the Clyde Mountain fire in Eurobodalla on the South Coast. Key points: Six firefighters are being treated in hospital after a tanker rolled in "tough conditions" on the South Coast The C-130 waterbomber that crashed yesterday was an important tool for the Rural Fire Service …

Coulson Aviation names three aerial firefighters who died in NSW tanker crash
4 years, 11 months ago

Coulson Aviation names three aerial firefighters who died in NSW tanker crash

ABC  

A Canadian-US aerial firefighting company has named the three Americans killed in an air tanker crash on Thursday in south-east New South Wales. Key points: The three American men who were killed in the crash were aged 44, 42 and 43 years old They had experience in the Air National Guard, Marine Corps and US Air Force The aerial firefighting …

Australia\'s Water-bombing plane crash kills 3 US firefighters
4 years, 11 months ago

Australia\'s Water-bombing plane crash kills 3 US firefighters

Deccan Chronicle  

Sydney: A large water-bombing plane crashed while fighting fires southwest of Sydney on Thursday, killing all three US crew on board, Australian officials said. New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said authorities lost contact with the Canada-owned C-130 Hercules aircraft, which was operating in the Snowy Monaro region, shortly before 1:30 pm Thursday. Fitzsimmons said all three …

3 U.S. firefighters killed in Australia air crash amid bush fires are identified
4 years, 11 months ago

3 U.S. firefighters killed in Australia air crash amid bush fires are identified

LA Times  

An aviation company has identified the three U.S. crew members who died battling Australia‘s bush fires, after their California-based air tanker crashed in a rugged part of the country’s coastal mountains. The C-130 Hercules aerial water tanker, owned by Coulson Aviation, crashed while flying in the Snowy Monaro region of southern Australia’s New South Wales state, officials said. There was …

Eighty Japanese soldiers arrive in Australia with medical supplies to help battle bushfires
4 years, 11 months ago

Eighty Japanese soldiers arrive in Australia with medical supplies to help battle bushfires

Daily Mail  

More than 80 Japanese soldiers and civilian disaster experts have arrived in Australia to provide support amid the bushfire crisis. Two planes filled with medical supplies including face masks for firefighters and troops landed at the Richmond Airforce Base in Sydney's West on Thursday. Air Commodore Carl Newman from the Royal Australian Air Force said the two C130 Hercules transport …

A firefighter was killed in the Australia bushfires. His son received a medal to honor his father’s bravery
5 years ago

A firefighter was killed in the Australia bushfires. His son received a medal to honor his father’s bravery

CNN  

CNN — The 19-month-old son of a firefighter killed while battling Australia’s bushfires received a posthumous medal to honor his father’s bravery on Thursday. Harvey, Keaton’s young son, was dressed in a firefighter outfit with a pacifier in his mouth as New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons pinned the medal to his chest. Posted by NSW Rural …

NSW bushfire victims' family gutted after online scammers set up fake fundraiser in their name
5 years ago

NSW bushfire victims' family gutted after online scammers set up fake fundraiser in their name

ABC  

The family of two men killed in the devastating NSW South Coast bushfires have been hurt again by fraudsters who appropriated their names and pictures to scam well-wishers. Key points: Robert and Patrick Salway were killed in the New Year's Eve fires on the South Coast A fake fundraising page has been stopped after taking thousands of dollars The family …

Two volunteer firefighters die during NSW bushfires after RFS truck rolls off road
5 years ago

Two volunteer firefighters die during NSW bushfires after RFS truck rolls off road

ABC  

Two volunteer firefighters were killed and three others injured in "the worst imaginable set of circumstances" when their truck rolled after being hit by a tree in Sydney's south-west. Key points: The men who died, Geoff Keaton, 32, and Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, were both fathers to young children Their truck was part of a convoy near the Green Wattle Creek …

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