Wildfire growing at chopper crash site; locals among those killed

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By KOMO Staff & News Services

Summary

Steep terrain and occasional gusty winds hampered firefighters' efforts against a wildfire sparked by a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of four people. As many as 160 firefighters were being deployed to battle the blaze. Four on board have now been identified.

Story Published: Aug 2, 2007 at 2:51 PM PDT

Story Updated: Mar 2, 2010 at 4:46 PM PDT

Wildfire growing at chopper crash site; locals among those killed
EASTON, Wash. (AP) - Steep terrain and occasional gusty winds hampered firefighters' efforts against a wildfire sparked by a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of four people.

Authorities who reached the crash site Friday afternoon confirmed the pilot and three passengers died in Thursday's crash. Crews recovered three of the bodies, but the fourth would not be recovered until Saturday as the investigation continues, Kittitas County Undersheriff Clayton Myers said.

Meanwhile, 160 firefighters were battling the blaze, which stood at 485 acres Friday night, fire information officer Scott Crawford said.

The fire was burning in steep timber three miles south of Easton, about 60 miles east-southeast of Seattle on the east slope of the Cascade Range.

The topography of the crash site poses several challenges for firefighters, Crawford said, including the steep terrain.

"We have one way in and one way out, which is a big safety challenge," he said. "There's going to be a super focus on safety in fighting this fire."

The fire was not immediately threatening any buildings. An unoccupied cabin sits about a mile away.

Authorities responded to the crash shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday.

After climbing high enough to get a look, the nearest witnesses, about half a mile away, reported seeing the helicopter engulfed in flames as the fire spread.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation.

Locals among four killed

Myers identified the pilot as Keiko Minakata of Classic Helicopter, a charter company based at Boeing Field in Seattle. She reportedly moved to Seattle from Japan eight years ago and had been with the company since March 2005.

The flight was chartered by Robert Hagerman of Marysville, owner of Formark Marketing Enterprises, a timber company located in Everett. Hagerman and two potential timber buyers, South Korean nationals Hyun Song and Si Lee, also perished in the crash.

Family members describe Hagerman as a devoted family man.

"My dad just had this amazing spirit and I thought if anybody could make. it would be him," said Rae Hagerman, his daughter.

Rae received the devastating news from an employee at her father's company on Thursday night.

"We had a logger on site that saw the helicopter go down. We knew at that point that something bad had happened," she said.

The four were flying over a mountainous part of Kittitas County for a land sale when the helicopter went down.

"It was just a show me-trip and we had been on those in the past. Unfortunately, this one went the way that it did," Rae said.

Employee Eric Warren describes Robert's life as a Cinderella story. Warren said Robert hitch-hiked his way from Chicago to Seattle more than 20 years ago and, over time, built himself up into an industry leader.

"Really the heart of what we were doing, so we're just trying to make it through the day right now and see where tomorrow leads us," he said.

Robert and his wife recently celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary. Family members said he was planning a fishing trip with his son.

"Just knowing he's gone it's been tough to put my hands around it," Rae said. "Good, honest, hard working man. It was pretty simple that way."