Forest Fire Sparked By Ensuing Post-Impact Fire

Fire and rescue crews continued to battle a 12-acre forest fire sparked by the downing of a Piper Cherokee on the eastern side of Mount Charleston, 20 miles northwest of North Las Vegas, in the vicinity of the Echo Canyon recreation area.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the aircraft carrying four departed from the North Las Vegas Airport at approximately 1430 local time headed to Byron, CA. At 1445, witnesses reported seeing the aircraft clip power lines along a road after flying low through the canyon and subsequently impacting in a wooded area at the 7,000 foot level several hundred feet from homes.

"The plane came down very low through the Echo Canyon residential area and topped off power poles and dropping power lines," said Scott Allison of the Clark County Fire department.

The aircraft burst into flames and touched off a wildfire near the Echo Subdivision of the mountain resort area. Rescue crews responding to the scene reported all four aboard did not survive the crash. Their names were not immediately available.

Fire officials said the fire quickly climbed the steep and parched terrain of the Spring Mountain Recreation Area and came within a half-mile of homes.

Residents of approximately 38 homes in the area were issued a mandatory evacuation Saturday afternoon as the fire spread.

The wildfire was 40 percent contained by 1000 Sunday according to Bureau of Land Management officials. Helicopter and fixed wing air attack aircraft were being used to assist ground efforts to control the fire in the rugged, dry slope. Crews hope to contain the fire by late Sunday and allow residents to return if wind conditions remain favorable.

Once the fire is contained, officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board at the scene will continue an investigation into the cause.

FMI: www.faa.gov