Helicopter fighting California brush fire crashes after mid-air collision

A firefighting helicopter that was working to extinguish a brush fire in California crashed in a mid-air collision Sunday, according to reports.

The helicopter was at the scene of a fire on 20 acres of Native American land in Cabazon when it went down around 7:15 p.m. according to authorities and CBS Los Angeles reported.

The crash happened just south of Morongo Casino in Riverside County, the television station reported.

Officials signaled there were casualties from the crash.

“We’re still working out the details on how many injuries and unfortunately fatalities,” said Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Captain Richard Cordova, according to Fox 11.

A witness told Fox 11 they saw the helicopter hit into another aircraft before the crash.

More information about a second aircraft was not immediately reported. 

“It is a risk not only to the firefighters on the ground but the firefighters in the air,” Cordova told CBS LA as he was arriving at the scene.

“We rely on each other to help each other out, to keep each other safe.”

He said officials and first responders would be on the ground until the fire was totally put out.

The helicopter was contracted by the department that is used by fire agencies, KABC reported.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said.

Further updates would come from the National Transportation Safety Board, the sheriff’s office said.

This is a developing story.