MEDFORD, Ore -- A helicopter contracted to the Oregon Department of Forestry made an emergency landing in a wooded area Sunday afternoon.
The pilot, the only person aboard, was not injured in the incident. It happened 15 miles north of Medford just after 3:00 p.m.
"Safety is our absolute priority, and we're very grateful that no one was hurt," said Dan Postrel, the department's public affairs director.
The helicopter, under contract from Columbia Basin Helicopters Inc., of Baker City, went down after fighting two grass fires in the area
Department employees were in immediate cell phone communication with the pilot, and reached the site on foot within 90 minutes of the incident. A bulldozer was dispatched to open up an unmaintained road to allow access to the site, on a forested slope.
The National Transportation Safety Board plans to investigate the accident.
Department officials also reminded the public Sunday that although fall has arrived, forests are extremely dry, and fire danger remains high.
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