A U.S. Forest Service firefighter was killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday afternoon in Texas.
Capt. Daniel J. Laird, 41, was a member of the Tahoe Helitack crew out of California, the Forest Service said. He was flying in a Eurocopter AS350 as it was helping the Forest Service with a controlled burn near Montgomery. It went down in Sam Houston National Forest in Montgomery County, just north of Houston, the agency said.
"Daniel started as a seasonal firefighter on the Tahoe and worked his way up to Helitack Captain," Randy Moore, the forester for the Pacific Southwest Region, said in a statement. "His passion was in aviation, but he was also known for his ability to lead a strike team of engines or a task force of hand crews and heavy equipment. He was a true leader in every sense. He was dedicated to being an instructor and a believer in the apprentice program, where he helped grow people just like himself."
Two other people were hurt in the accident, which happened in Sam Houston National Forest in Montgomery County, just north of Houston, KHOU-TV reports. They were taken to Conroe Regional Medical Center.
The crash is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, KHOU reports.
