Helicopter pilot killed battling Western wildfires

HELENA, Montana (CNN) — A pilot was
killed on Sunday when his helicopter
crashed while making water drops on
one of many wildfires raging in the
western United States.

The firefighter, whose identity was not released, was battling a blaze in a remote
area about 50 miles east of Fallon, Nevada, which had already consumed 37,700
acres.

The pilot was the eighth firefighter killed fighting wildfires this year, and the
second killed in a helicopter crash this month in Nevada.

On Monday, the National Fire Information Center reported 82 large fires burning
across 919,710 acres. Although firefighters contended Sunday with seven
additional fires, they took satisfaction in their accomplishment.