Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The widow of a Utah firefighter who was killed when a supertanker dropped nearly 20,000 gallons of fire retardant near his position fighting a Northern California fire is suing Cal Fire and the aircraft company for alleged negligence.
State investigators found 42-year-old battalion chief Matthew Burchett of Draper, Utah, died last August when fire retardant was dropped from an aircraft flying barely above the treetops because spotters mistakenly sent it on a route too close to the ground.
Related:
Utah firefighter's death caused by retardant drop from 747
A firefighter battling the largest wildfire in California history was killed last month when thousands of gallons of flame-suppressing liquid were dropped from an aircraft flying barely above the treetops because spotters mistakenly sent it on a route too close to the ground, according to state investigation findings released FridayThe retardant struck with such force it uprooted an 87-foot (27-meter) tree that fell on Burchett.
The Sacramento Bee reports that a lawsuit filed Wednesday by Burchett's widow and son says the firefighter was in a "safe zone" when the retardant was dropped.
Cal Fire did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.
___
Information from: The Sacramento Bee, http://www.sacbee.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
