PARK CITY, Utah — A procession was held for a Park City helicopter pilot killed earlier this month while responding to the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park.
Ryan Cutter was a member of Precision and was working as an exclusive-use helicopter crew for the Payette National Forest, the Forest Service said. He and another pilot, Greg King, were assigned to the Price Valley Rappel Crew based in New Meadows, Idaho.
The Forest Service said the pilots were involved in wildfire suppression efforts and had helped ground crews make progress on the fire before they died on Sept. 20.
"This news weighs heavy for our firefighters assigned to this aircraft, those working on the fire, as well as the overall wildland firefighting community and our agency," wrote Utah Fire Info. "We want to emphasize our gratitude for the diligence of the first responders who prioritized the safe recovery of the pilots from the scene, and the effort to bring them home quickly."
A dignified transfer for the pilots occurred Tuesday.
Cutter was returned to Park City through Heber Airport around 12:45 p.m., and the procession was held from Heber City to Summit Park.
"Tragedies of this nature serve as a reminder of the admirable work by our employees and partners," state fire officials added. "The hardest thing we encounter as land managers is the loss of life. We honor these pilots by supporting those who remain on scene fighting this and other fires, caring for one another affected by this tragedy, and never forgetting the extraordinary example they set with their ultimate sacrifice."
