Our condolences to the Bonito family, the Pearce family, the
White Mountain Apache Tribe, and the Fort Apache Agency of
the Bureau of Indian Affairs Fire Management of Whiteriver,
Arizona. FireFighter Randall Bonito, 32, and Pilot Jess Pearce,
50, both veteran wildland firefighters for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs died Saturday July 26, 2003. Randall and Jess were
killed when the contract helicopter they were flying in crashed
175 miles northeast of Phoenix. The helicopter was transporting
firefighters from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the Aspen Ridge
area of the White Mountain Apache Reservation. Two other
firefighters were injured and hospitalized in the crash.
A memorial service was held for Randall on August 2, 2003 1PM
at the Chief Alchesey Activity Center in Whiteriver followed by
a funeral service. A memorial service for Jess was held August 2,
2003 10AM at the LDS Church in Peoria, Arizona. A memorial
fund has been established and donations can be made online
here
or:
