Three American Firefighters Dead After Plane Crash in Australia

Three American firefighters were killed in a water tanker plane crash in Australia yesterday. They were helping battle the intense wildfires which have devastated nearly the entire country of Australia. The c-130 Hercules had just left from Richmond in New South Wales carrying retardant for a fire-bombing mission when it crashed. An official statement from Coulson Aviation in Oregon said the damage was “extensive” with three American fatalities but didn’t offer much else concerning the circumstances surrounding the crash. This tragedy now raises the death toll from the fires to 31. Currently all fire fighting air-crafts are grounded as a precaution pending an official investigation. This is concerning because it reduces the amount of fire fighting resources they have in new south wales and neighboring areas who desperately need them.