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CLEAR Temp: 90 °F Wind: NW at 10 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 27, 2003 Grants Pass pilot killed in crash over wildfire The Associated Press KELLER, Wash. — A Grants Pass pilot killed in a helicopter crash on the Colville Indian Reservation had extensive experience fighting wildfires from the air, authorities said Saturday. Randall Harmon, 44, was the only one on board the Kaman K-1200 when it went down Friday while dropping water on the McGinnis Flats fire near this town in northeastern Washington. "We’re a small company and it really hits home," said Andy Mills, marketing director for Superior Helicopter LLC, based in Grants Pass. A married father of two, Harmon had worked for Superior Helicopter for seven years. He had more than 9,500 flight hours in 20 years of experience as a helicopter pilot, said Bill Wilburn, a fire information officer with the state Department of Natural Resources. Advertisement The National Transportation Safety Board was leading the crash investigation. Two Superior Helicopter representatives were sent to the crash site Saturday to assist NTSB investigators, Mills said. "We have no indications whatsoever what happened," Mills said. "Whatever happened, happened quickly. That’s all we know." Harmon was the first person killed fighting wildfires in Washington state this year. His death came five days after two helitack firefighters in Idaho were killed while battling a blaze in the Salmon- Challis National Forest. Jeff Allen, 24, and Shane Heath, died Tuesday when a fire exploded around them as they were trying to prepare a helicopter landing site at the Cramer fire, about 22 miles west of North Fork, Idaho. The helicopter Harmon was flying was a multipurpose aircraft that could carry suspended loads and is used for firefighting, forestry and logging. Mills said Superior Helicopter’s main concern was the well-being of Harmon’s family. "We’re trying to do our best to support them right now," he said. The crash did not ground any helicopters on the McGinnis Flats fire. A DNR helicopter continued to drop water on the fire, Wilburn said, and another one was being sent from the Farewell Creek fire in northcentral Washington. The fire, which started July 18, had burned about 2,223 acres and remained about 70 percent contained Saturday. There were 638 firefighters on the line. Investigators said it was human-caused and has cost about $3.3 million to fight. There have been no serious injuries from any of the other wildfires now burning in Washington, which have charred more than 90,000 acres. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times