A native Idyllwild firefighter died Sunday night along with two others in a helicopter that collided with another helicopter in Cabazon while responding to a wildfire. Cal Fire Assistant Chief Josh Bischof was riding with Capt. Tim Rodriguez and a contract helicopter pilot when their helicopter collided with another helicopter carrying two people. The other helicopter landed safely. Bischof’s helicopter crashed, killing all three occupants.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAL FIRE
Dave Fulcher, Cal Fire southern region chief, in a news conference Monday morning, told reporters that the incident occurred about 6:03 p.m. when fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft had responded to the Broadway Fire that started at Broadway Street and Esperanza Avenue in Cabazon.
The crash caused another four-acre fire, the Bonita Fire, that was quickly extinguished, he said. He extended his deepest sympathies to the families and said this was a tragic loss. He said Riverside County Fire Chief Bill Weiser had met with two of the families and was planning to meet with the third.
The National Transportation Safety Board was on its way to investigate the incident.
Cal Fire posted on social media, “It is with sorrow and regret that we inform the public of a midair collision August 6, 2023, that took the lives of two CAL FIRE employees and one Exclusive Use helicopter pilot. Assistant Chief Josh Bischof and Fire Captain Tim Rodriguez perished along with an Exclusive Use Helicopter Pilot in a collision between a Type 1 and Type 3 Exclusive Use helicopter assigned to the Broadway Fire in the Riverside Unit in the community of Cabazon.
“CAL FIRE will work closely with the Incident Commander, the National Transportation Safety Board, Riverside Unit and applicable programs to cooperate and investigate this aviation accident. Equally important, we will work closely with Southern Region, Riverside Unit, CAL FIRE Firefighters Local 2881, CAL FIRE Firefighters Local 2881 Honor Guard, and Headquarters programs to ensure that our employees and their families will be taken care of through this devastating time.
“Please be safe and keep the families in your thoughts.”
Riverside County 4th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez reached out to Weiser Monday morning to offer his sympathy on the passing of three helicopter victims.
“It is with great sadness that three members of our fire service perished protecting us from fire,” said Perez. “It is a horrible tragedy when those who serve the community do not return home to their families. I pray for their families and the rest of Riverside County Fire Personnel.”
Bischof was high-profile on several fires, including the Camp Fire in Paradise in 2018, briefing President Donald Trump on the disastrous fire where at least 85 civilians lost their lives. He was the son of Larry Bischof of Mountain Center and Suzanne Bischof. He lived in Menifee, according to Facebook, with his wife Cheryl and children.
