More detail on this person: HELICOPTER
ACCIDENT ON ELK COMPLEX FIRES, HAPPY
CAMP, CA
(YREKA, CA)- The victim of yesterday's helicopter
crash has been identified as Dennis Luster Davis,
61, of Boise, ID. Davis was a pilot for Idaho
Helicopters, Inc., also of Boise, ID, and flew a
Bell 205, type 2 helicopter, tail number 205BR.
Davis' helicopter crashed at 10:15 am as he was
providing logistical support to crews fighting the
Elk Fire. The Elk fire is one of 30 fires within
the Elk Complex; 24 of the 30 fires are 100%
contained.
At 12 p.m. yesterday, aviation operations were
suspended on the Elk Complex. Suspending air
operations is routine following aviation
accidents. Aviation resources resumed regular
operations this morning.
A USDA Forest Service National Accident
Investigation Team under the leadership of Jim
Sedell arrived today, and has initiated their
investigation.
Dennis L. Davis
ID United States
Dennis L. Davis I, Vicki Vosburg, am writing this
in love and memory of my husband, Dennis L. Davis
who passed away due to a helicopter accident in
Yreka, Calif. fighting wildfires on Monday, July
23, 2007. Dennis was born Aug. 2, 1946 in Palm
Springs, Calif. to Ben Davis, Sr. and Sally
Tissaw. He was born with a passion for humans and
animals alike. He would give the shirt off his
back, or food from his hand to any person or
animal in need. He always tried to find a
connection with people he met. He received a
bachelor's degree in Business Administration in
1978 and was awarded a Master of Science Degree
becoming a Naturopathic Physician in 2004. When
he wasn't fighting fires, he specialized in
Nutrition and Iridology working with me at The
Herb Pantry in Boise. He was an experienced
helicopter pilot flying for more than 35 years
including two and half tours in Vietnam, where he
was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and
the Bronze Star Medal; piloting for the police
department in Pomona, Calif.; flying Life Flight
for St. Al's and finally fighting forest fires
nationally. He chose to start fighting forest
fires because he was so concerned about the
number of animals and people losing their lives.
He was very committed to this being his last year
of fighting forest fires, saying he was just
tired. This time I knew he was serious; he was
ready to come home. We found each other and
married on June 25, 1994 in Sedona, Ariz. This
began my love affair with one of the most
incredible men - he was perfect for me. He was the
love of my life; my very best friend. I can't
imagine being without him. I was a very lucky
woman and feel blessed to have had these years
with him. I will miss him with all my heart. We
had a ritual during our phone calls to end our
conversation every night. I would say, "be safe
and I love you." And, he would respond with "I
love you, too. Dennis was a person who left a mark
everywhere he went; he always had a ready hand
and an open heart. He'll be missed by his entire
family and friends and every person who ever came
in contact with him. No one knows when we will
leave this earth. Please make sure you tell your
loved ones each day "I love you" and don't forget
the hug. That's important, too. Dennis is survived
by myself, his daughters from a previous marriage;
Stacie Wyatt and Tracie Brister, their spouses and
children of Sedona, Ariz. He had five
sisters-in-law; Pat Jordan (Ron), Lynda De La Pena
(Lucky), Judy Vosburg, Cindi Walton (Lee), and
Lori Stom (Jack), along with several nephews and
nieces. The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. on
Saturday, July 28, 2007 at Alden-Waggoner, 5400
Fairview Ave, Boise. There will be a reception
following at the El Korah Shrine Temple, 1118 W.
Idaho St. in Boise after the services.
Dennis Davis: Boise pilot dies in helicopter crash
Dennis Davis was delivering water to firefighters
in California, investigators are still trying to
determine the cause.
KATHLEEN KRELLER & The Associated Press
Dennis Davis told his wife he loved her and missed
her and was ready to come home during a
telephone conversation lasting more than an hour
Sunday night.
That was the last conversation the Boise couple
shared.
On Monday morning, Davis, 60, died in a helicopter
crash while piloting his aircraft and delivering
water to firefighters battling a blaze in Klamath
National Forest in Northern California.
Vicki Davis , his wife, was emotionally distraught
and unable to speak with an Idaho Statesman
reporter. Her sister, Judy Vosburg , said the
couple shared a magical marriage and were best
friends.
"Just last night she said, 'I want you to fly
right and be safe and please come home,' "
Vosburg said. "He said 'I love you, and I miss
you.' "
Investigators were trying to determine what caused
the chopper to go down in "extremely rugged"
mountain territory about 12 miles southeast of
Happy Camp in Siskiyou County, said Duane Lyon,
a U.S. Forest Service spokesman. Davis worked for
Idaho Helicopters and was under contract with the
U.S. Forest Service, although he was not a
government employee. He was the only person in
the aircraft.
Davis' helicopter was carrying a large water
container to refill hand-pump backpacks for
firefighters on the ground. Some firefighters saw
the helicopter crash and reported it to emergency
dispatchers. The cause of the crash is under
investigation, officials said.
More than 1,100 fire crews were battling the
cluster of about 30 lightning-sparked fires
covering 14 square miles near the Oregon state
line.
"I have no regrets. I absolutely love this man. He
was my playmate, my best friend, my traveling
buddy. He was my everything," Vicki Davis said
through her sister.
Vosburg said the couple had been married for 12
years and moved to Boise from Sedona, Ariz.,
about seven years ago. Vicki Davis owns the Herb
Pantry on Curtis Road, where Dennis Davis had
office space for his naturopathic practice.
Davis was a true Renaissance man, Vosburg said.
He was a Vietnam veteran and had piloted
helicopters since his 20s. He had a passion for
antique trucks and cars. He adored cats and had
adopted strays. He had worked as a police officer
in Palm Springs and at one time owned his own
flooring and painting business. He was active with
the Shriners.
Davis and his wife had recently discussed whether
this was to be his last fire season, Vosburg said.
Vosburg said her sister is devastated because she
had waited until her early 40s to get married.
Dennis Davis became a widower 13 years ago. He
has two grown daughters from that marriage.
"Their relationship was so special because
everybody wanted to be around them," said
Vosburg, an Idaho Statesman employee. "I just
want to say, I don't want it to be him. He was too
neat of a guy. What a sad, sad day."
Funeral arrangements are pending, she said.
Additional information may be obtained online at
http://www.inciweb.org/ or
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath or by calling
(530) 841-4451.
Officials identified the pilot killed in Monday
morning's crash as Dennis Luster Davis, 61, of
Boise, Idaho.
Davis was delivering water to firefighters when
his helicopter went down in a "heavily wooded
mountainous area with very steep and rugged
terrain" near the Oregon border, according to the
Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department.
The helicopter was under contract with the U.S.
Forest Service from a company called Idaho
Helicopters Inc., based in Boise. Davis was the
only person on board.
On Tuesday, Forest Service investigators examined
the crash site about 12 miles southeast of Happy
Camp.
The aircraft had been carrying a large water
container to refill hand-pump backpacks for crews
on the ground battling the massive wildfire. Some
firefighters had seen the crash and reported it to
emergency dispatchers.
Davis' wife, Vicki Vosburg, issued a statement
following the crash, describing her husband as a
Vietnam War veteran who also had worked as a Life
Flight pilot for a Boise hospital. He had planned
to quit flying this year and concentrate on a
naturopathic medicine business he'd started, she
said.
"He was very committed to this being his last
year, he was just tired of flying and wanted to
help people get better," Vosburg said.
More than 1,100 fire crews were battling the
cluster of lightning-sparked fires dubbed the Elk
Complex, which have so far burned more than 14
square miles in a remote region just south of the
Oregon border. One of the nearest cities is
Medford, Ore., about 75 miles north.
The fires, which started July 10, had threatened
up to 550 homes near the town of Happy Camp, but
none has been destroyed.
About 28 percent of the fire was surrounded
Tuesday, and officials expected it to be fully
surrounded by Sunday.
Nearly 700 miles to the south, firefighters were
aided by cloud cover and damp air Tuesday in
battling the nearly 3-week-old blaze in the Los
Padres National Forest.
The fire, ignited July 4 by sparks from grinding
equipment outside the forest borders, held at
about 48 square miles and was 65 percent
surrounded. Full containment was expected Aug.
3.
A service of the Associated Press(AP)
Davis was flying a 1968 Bell 205A-1 Helicopter for
Idaho Helicopters Inc. and was under contract with
the U.S. Forest Service. Davis leaves behind his
wife of 12 years, Vicki, and two grown daughters
who both live in California.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the
U.S. Forest are investigating the cause of the
crash.
From: Blair N. Noel
This information was last updated 10/04/2017
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