Cyclic Hotline
27th Jun 2002, 13:48
There is probably another one of these in the works, after a fire caused by an R-44, (which also consumed it), about a month ago in Galena, Alaska!
State sues helicopter pilot named, aviation and electric companies for wildfire
The Associated Press
(Published: June 26, 2002)
Fairbanks -- The state has filed a $3.6 million civil lawsuit against Golden Valley Electric Association and the man who piloted the helicopter that the state says started an 84,000-acre wildfire last year.
Pilot Larry Larrivee's company, Naknek-based Pollux Aviation, is also named in the suit. Larrivee was ferrying workers to a right-of-way clearing site for construction of the northern intertie power line when the fire started on June 20, 2001.
The suit alleges that Larrivee landed his helicopter in tall, dry grass during an extreme fire danger alert. The helicopter's exhaust system ignited the grass, the suit said.
A passenger leaving the helicopter saw the blaze and told Larrivee to take off, which he did. The wind from the helicopter rotors further fueled the fire and quickly caused it to grow despite the efforts of those on the ground to extinguish the flames.
Larrivee said he reported the fire to authorities. The suit alleges that Larrivee and his passengers did not make a reasonable effort to control the fire.
The lawsuit also says Golden Valley and Larrivee did not exercise proper care to avoid fire during an extreme fire danger and should have had firefighting equipment on hand.
The state right-of-way permit required Golden Valley, its contractors, subcontractors and their workers to make every effort to prevent, control and suppress fires and to repay damages.
The state is seeking double damages, said Kevin Saxby, assistant attorney general.
"We're only asking them for suppression costs," Saxby said. "Not the trees they burned up."
The cost of suppressing the blaze is about $2.9 million, Saxby said. The federal government will reimburse approximately $1 million to the state. The state is seeking twice the remaining amount, which is allowable under state law.
Golden Valley president Steve Haagenson said Monday he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.
Larrivee declined comment when reached by phone on Monday.
State sues helicopter pilot named, aviation and electric companies for wildfire
The Associated Press
(Published: June 26, 2002)
Fairbanks -- The state has filed a $3.6 million civil lawsuit against Golden Valley Electric Association and the man who piloted the helicopter that the state says started an 84,000-acre wildfire last year.
Pilot Larry Larrivee's company, Naknek-based Pollux Aviation, is also named in the suit. Larrivee was ferrying workers to a right-of-way clearing site for construction of the northern intertie power line when the fire started on June 20, 2001.
The suit alleges that Larrivee landed his helicopter in tall, dry grass during an extreme fire danger alert. The helicopter's exhaust system ignited the grass, the suit said.
A passenger leaving the helicopter saw the blaze and told Larrivee to take off, which he did. The wind from the helicopter rotors further fueled the fire and quickly caused it to grow despite the efforts of those on the ground to extinguish the flames.
Larrivee said he reported the fire to authorities. The suit alleges that Larrivee and his passengers did not make a reasonable effort to control the fire.
The lawsuit also says Golden Valley and Larrivee did not exercise proper care to avoid fire during an extreme fire danger and should have had firefighting equipment on hand.
The state right-of-way permit required Golden Valley, its contractors, subcontractors and their workers to make every effort to prevent, control and suppress fires and to repay damages.
The state is seeking double damages, said Kevin Saxby, assistant attorney general.
"We're only asking them for suppression costs," Saxby said. "Not the trees they burned up."
The cost of suppressing the blaze is about $2.9 million, Saxby said. The federal government will reimburse approximately $1 million to the state. The state is seeking twice the remaining amount, which is allowable under state law.
Golden Valley president Steve Haagenson said Monday he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.
Larrivee declined comment when reached by phone on Monday.