On a Saturday evening in the high desert of New Mexico, four men who had spent their day serving others did not make it home. A helicopter returning from wildfire support operations crashed near Chapelle, claiming the lives of Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lieutenant Fred Beers, Deputy Michael Levison, and Rescue Specialist Matthew King — a reminder that the work of protecting communities carries its own quiet and irreversible dangers. Their deaths, unfolding far from the fire lines they had just supported, speak to the invisible labor of emergency response and the cost that sometimes accompanies
Four New Mexico first responders killed in helicopter crash identified
Four first responders—Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lt. Fred Beers, Deputy Michael Levison, and Rescue Specialist Matthew King—were killed in the helicopter crash.
dedicated public servants doing what first responders do day in and day out
Mark
What were they actually doing up there when it went down?
Mimi
They were coming back from supporting crews fighting the East Mesa fire. The helicopter was dropping supplies and equipment to firefighters on the ground—the kind of logistics work that keeps a large fire operation running. They were heading home to Albuquerque when something went wrong.
Mark
Do we know what caused it yet?
Mimi
Not at that point. The NTSB and state police had just started investigating. It could have been mechanical, weather, terrain—there are a lot of variables when you're flying in mountainous country during fire season.
Mark
Were these people known in their communities?
Mimi
They were career emergency workers. Koren was an undersheriff, Beers and Levison were deputies—they'd spent years in law enforcement. King was a rescue specialist with the fire department. These weren't new recruits. They were the backbone of the system.
Mark
How did the governor respond?
Mimi
She called them dedicated public servants and said she was heartbroken. But the real response came from the agencies themselves—they immediately pivoted to supporting the families. That's what mattered in those first hours.
Mark
Is this a common risk in wildfire operations?
Mimi
It's a known risk, yes. Helicopters are essential during big fires, but flying in rough terrain, sometimes in poor visibility, carrying heavy loads—it's inherently dangerous work. Most of the time it goes fine. Sometimes it doesn't.
Mark
What happens next?
Mimi
The investigation continues. The families grieve. The agencies figure out how to move forward. And the next fire season comes, and other crews do the same work, knowing what happened to these four.
O Pulso
- A Bell UH-1h helicopter went down around 7:20 p.m. Saturday near Chapelle, killing all four emergency personnel aboard as they flew back to Albuquerque after a day of wildfire logistics support.
- The loss struck the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and Fire Rescue simultaneously, leaving two agencies to absorb grief while managing active operations during wildfire season.
- Recovery crews worked through Sunday to retrieve the victims from the crash site, shifting the mission from search to the somber task of bringing the four men home.
- The NTSB and New Mexico State Police launched a formal investigation into the wreckage, with the cause — mechanical, environmental, or otherwise — still unknown.
- Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and state officials called for support for the victims' families, while the sheriff's office pledged direct care to those left behind.
On a Saturday evening in the high desert of New Mexico, four men who had spent their day serving others did not make it home. A helicopter returning from wildfire support operations crashed near Chapelle, claiming the lives of Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lieutenant Fred Beers, Deputy Michael Levison, and Rescue Specialist Matthew King — a reminder that the work of protecting communities carries its own quiet and irreversible dangers. Their deaths, unfolding far from the fire lines they had just supported, speak to the invisible labor of emergency response and the cost that sometimes accompanies it.
A helicopter carrying four emergency workers crashed near Chapelle, New Mexico on Saturday evening, killing all aboard. The Bell UH-1h went down around 7:20 p.m., roughly 100 miles east of Albuquerque, as the crew was returning from a day of logistics support at the East Mesa fire. Among the dead were Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lieutenant Fred Beers, and Deputy Michael Levison of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, and Rescue Specialist Matthew King of Bernalillo County Fire Rescue.
The victims were identified Sunday, a day after the crash. Recovery efforts began immediately, with authorities working to retrieve the bodies and return them to Albuquerque. The cause of the crash remained unknown, with the NTSB and New Mexico State Police arriving at the scene to examine the wreckage and begin their investigation.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham mourned the loss publicly, describing the four men as dedicated public servants doing the essential, often unseen work of emergency response. The sheriff's office turned its attention to the families left behind, pledging support in the days ahead.
The crash cast a sharp light on the dangers embedded in wildfire operations. Helicopters are indispensable during large fires — ferrying equipment, dropping retardant, conducting reconnaissance — but the work is hazardous, especially in rugged terrain where conditions shift without warning. The four men who died Saturday were part of that effort, and their names now carry the weight of what it costs to fight fires in New Mexico.
A Bell UH-1h helicopter carrying four emergency workers crashed near Chapelle, New Mexico on Saturday evening around 7:20 p.m., killing all aboard. The aircraft went down roughly 100 miles east of Albuquerque as the crew was returning to their base after a day spent supporting firefighters on the ground at the East Mesa fire. The four men—Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lieutenant Fred Beers, and Deputy Michael Levison of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, along with Rescue Specialist Matthew King from Bernalillo County Fire Rescue—were part of a coordinated effort to contain the blaze, their helicopter providing logistics support and equipment drops to crews working below.
The identification of the victims came on Sunday, a day after the crash. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office released a statement acknowledging the loss and noting that recovery efforts had begun immediately. The focus shifted quickly from search to retrieval—authorities worked through Sunday to recover the bodies from the crash site and transport them back to Albuquerque. The cause of the crash remained unknown at the time of the announcement, with investigators only beginning their work.
The National Transportation Safety Board and New Mexico State Police took over the investigation, arriving at the scene to examine the wreckage and gather evidence. The NTSB identified the aircraft as a Bell UH-1h, a model commonly used in emergency and military operations. Details about what led to the crash—mechanical failure, weather, pilot error, or some other factor—would take time to determine. The helicopter had been in routine operation, performing the kind of support mission that first responders carry out regularly during wildfire season across the Southwest.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement Sunday expressing her grief over the loss. She described the four men as dedicated public servants engaged in the unglamorous, essential work that defines emergency response—the daily grind of protecting their communities. The sheriff's office, in its own statement, shifted its immediate attention to the families left behind, pledging to provide care and support as they processed the sudden loss. New Mexico State Police added their own call for the public to hold the victims' families and colleagues in their thoughts.
The crash underscored the risks embedded in wildfire response operations. Helicopters provide critical support during large fires—dropping water and fire retardant, transporting personnel and equipment, conducting reconnaissance. The work is necessary but inherently dangerous, particularly in mountainous terrain where weather can change rapidly and visibility can deteriorate. The four men who died Saturday were part of that machinery, doing work that most people never see and often take for granted. Their names would now be remembered as part of the cost of fighting fires in New Mexico.
Citações Notáveis
These were dedicated public servants doing what first responders do day in and day out: working tirelessly for their fellow New Mexicans.— Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
Our focus remains on providing care and support for the surviving family members as they grapple with the situation.— Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office
Quer a matéria completa?
Leia o original em UPI News ↗
Climate & Environment