The U.S. Fire Administration released a notification on the death of a helicopter who was operating at the Clear Fire, which was located 10 miles northwest of the City of Anderson, Alaska, along the Teklanika River.
On Sunday, June 26, 2022, Pilot Douglas “Doug” Ritchie, 56, the sole occupant of a Bell UH1B Helicopter, was supporting firefighting efforts at the fire when the helicopter crashed after takeoff, killing Pilot Ritchie. Investigation into the incident continues.