3 Die As PG&E-Contracted Helicopter Hits Power Line, Sparks Fire

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — A helicopter contracted by PG&E crashed Tuesday afternoon in the rural hills of Solano County, killing all three people aboard and sparking a brush fire that resulted in a widespread power outage. The helicopter went down around 1 p.m. when it came into contact with a 115-kilovolt power line near Vacaville, PG&E Spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian told Patch.

An FAA spokesperson said the helicopter was a Bell 206 that crashed under unknown circumstances near the intersection of Lyon Road and Soda Springs Road around 1:30 p.m.

"The helicopter caught fire after crashing," FAA Spokesman Ian Gregor said in an email. "We believe there were three people on board ... The FAA and NTSB will investigate."

The Solano County Sheriff's Office has since confirmed that three people died in the helicopter crash.

"Our deepest condolences to their loved ones," the sheriff's office said.

The fatal crash sparked a brush fire that grew to around 7 acres.

At 1:46 p.m., a Cal Fire engine crew was responding to the fire when it overturned at Lyon Road and Blue Mountain Drive, Cal Fire Spokesman Will Powers confirmed.

Three firefighters suffered minor injuries in the rollover crash and were taken to an area hospital, Powers said.

"It's all still under investigation," Powers told Patch.

Solano County sheriff's deputies responded to the scene in the area of Blue Mountain Drive and Lyon Road; Lyon Road was closed in both directions until around 8:45 p.m., the sheriff's office said.

At 4:30 p.m., four power outages were affecting 36,343 customers in the Fairfield area, according to PG&E's website.

PG&E told Patch that at the request of Cal Fire and for the safety of the public, PG&E de-energized electric power to some 38,000 customers in the Vacaville / Fairfield area of Solano County.

The crash is under the jurisdiction of the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA, Sarkissian said.

"PG&E will provide full support as needed," Sarkissian said.

PG&E regularly uses contracted helicopters to perform inspections of electric and gas transmission lines.

Prior to reenergizing affected customers Tuesday night, Sarkissian said PG&E completed patrols to verify it was safe to do so and also received PG&E's approval.

As of 8:21 p.m., power was restored to all 38,000 affected customers, according to Brandi Merlot, a PG&E spokesperson.

"Our hearts and our prayers go out to those impacted by today's events," Merlot said.