Investigation reveals factors behind helitack firefighters' deaths in Colorado

A U.S. Interior Department investigation found that unexpected fire behavior, chronic understaffing and a shortage of highly trained workers contributed to the deaths of four helitack firefighters in western Colorado in June. The crew was trapped when strong winds pushed the fire toward them. The report also cited a policy emphasizing rapid suppression of new fires, which led officials to deploy the team despite forecasts of extreme fire weather.