By Brandt Mannchen
On March 27, 2019, tragedy occurred on Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF). A contracted helicopter used for prescribed burning (Eurocopter AS350) crashed near Bethel Road and FM 149, in northwest Montgomery County. The crash occurred about 2 pm and resulted in the death of one person and injury to two others.
Emergency personnel had to extract the crew from the helicopter using jaws and air bags. The pilot and another fire fighter were transported to a local hospital where they were listed as in stable condition.
The fire fighter killed in the crash was Mr. Daniel Laird, a U.S. Forest Service (FS) Tahoe National Forest public lands employee. Mr. Laird was Captain of a Helitack crew, and came from Yuba City, California. The other two crew members are Morgan J. Kozloski and Kelly Callahen.
Helicopters are used to conduct aerial ignitions of prescribed burns. Fire is used as part of a management strategy to protect forests and endangered species. On the day of the crash, one prescribed burn was planned for 1,583 acres near FM 1375 and Forest Road 233 in Walker County and the other burn was for 969 acres south of FM 149 and near Forest Road 219 in Montgomery County.
The causes of the crash are not known at this time. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the crash.
When the Sierra Club heard about the crash on March 28, 2019, the following email was sent to Mr. Warren Oja, District Ranger, Sam Houston National Forest and Mr. Eddie Taylor, Forest Supervisor, National Forests and Grasslands in Texas.
“Dear Warren and Eddie,
I read in the Houston Chronicle today about the crash of a helicopter yesterday in Sam Houston National Forest while conducting a prescribed burn. On behalf of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club and all of our members we are so sorry for the death of one person and the injury to two others. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and for you and everyone else at Sam Houston National Forest and the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas as you deal with this tragedy now and in the days ahead. If the Sierra Club can be of assistance please let me know. Public employees face dangers to do good in natural resource jobs. The Sierra Club salutes the women and men of the U.S. Forest Service who steward our public national forests. Take care and God speed.”
It is important that all Sierrans remember that public land employees work for us every day, often in dangerous circumstances. We should support their efforts to protect the national forests and other public lands in every way possible. This support is a true lasting legacy for the crew of the helicopter that crashed in SHNF. Our prayers are with the families and friends of the crew in this very difficult time.
This article was written using material that was gathered from a Houston Chronicle article and several internet news articles.