Full Notification

*****Update: July 02, 2010*****

Inspector Don Kunitomi of the Los Angeles County Fire Department reports that as of 11:15AM, 20 acres of brush have been burned and the fire is 100% contained. Fire crews are advancing on the hot spots, slowly extinguishing the flames.

There are currently 150 firefighters battling the blaze on Catalina Island and Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopters continue to make water drops. No structures have been damaged.

Avalon Sheriff's Station Lieutenant Jeff Donahue reported that as part of the mutual aid operation, Sheriff's Air Rescue-5 helicopter had transported 75 firefighters to Catalina Island, as well as a Coroner's investigator, and National Transportation Safety Board investigators. Lt. Donahue added that although the pilot had unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash, there have been no other reported injuries as a result of the fire. No evacuations were made and no evacuations are anticipated.

The City of Avalon is about ten miles southeast and is not affected. Transportation to and from the island is operating as scheduled and the weekend 4th of July Independence Day celebrations are proceeding as planned. For further information on the celebration visit www.catalinachamber.com/


Sources:
Capt. Mike Parker, Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, (323) 267-4800.
Inspector Don Kunitomi, Los Angeles County Fire Department, (323) 881-2411.



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Original Press Release

Plane crashes on Catalina Island, sparking a brushfire

A male pilot radioed Catalina's Airport in the Sky shortly after 1:00 PM. He reported he was having chest pains, was possibly having a heart attack, and said he didn't think he could make it to the runway. Shortly thereafter, a small plane went down about two miles northwest of the Airport in the Sky, in the uninhabited area of Echo Lake, said Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jeff Donahue.

The plane crash sparked a brush fire that was estimated to be about 20 acres and spreading as of 4:55PM, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Matt Levesque. Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters are battling the blaze on the ground, and Fire Department helicopters have made several water drops. It is approximately 50% contained.
Sheriff’s Lt. Donahue said there are several occupied youth camps several miles away, including Camp Fox and White’s Landing. They are not considered to be in danger. The City of Avalon is about ten miles southeast and is not affected.

Due to the fire and hilly and rough terrain, deputies and firefighters were not able to reach the plane crash site until about 4:15PM. At the scene, they found the pilot, who was the sole occupant of the plane, deceased.
The plane is described as a Cessna 182P, fixed wing, single engine, 4 seat plane.

Updates will be provided via www.Nixle.com by signing up for the LASD – Headquarters (SHB) groups.

Sources:
Capt. Mike Parker, Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, (323) 267-4800.
Inspector Matt Levesque, Los Angeles County Fire Department, (323) 881-2411.