WENATCHEE - A Moses Lake firm that provides planes for use in forest firefighting work has been fined $325,000 in connection with the deaths of two pilots this summer, according to Richard Davis, director of the Washington Department of Labor and Industries.
The firm, Aries Aire Ltd., was not registered with the state for industrial insurance coverage when the accident occurred, Davis said Thursday.
Davis said the firm had not purchased industrial insurance for the two pilots. Since the accident, an account has been opened for the company.
The pilots were killed when their vintage PBY crashed into the Columbia River about seven miles south of Northport in Stevens County on July 29.
The pilots were identified as James Dunlap, 53, of Port Orchard, and Timothy Trudell, 35, of Inchelium.
The plane was fighting a 70-acre fire on private land, under a contract with the Department of Natural Resources.
Authorities said the crash occurred as the men were attempting to reload the tanker with water.
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