Remembering the 1985 Helicopter Crash That Claimed Five Lives During B.C.’s Deadly Wildfire Season
- ExNews.net
- Apr 3
- 3 min read
REVELSTOKE, B.C. April 3, 2025
Nearly four decades ago, on June 29, 1985, a helicopter crash in the rugged mountains south of Revelstoke claimed the lives of four firefighters and a pilot, marking one of the deadliest single incidents in British Columbia’s 1985 wildfire season.
As the province braces for another fire season, the tragedy near Beatrice Lake serves as a somber reminder of the risks faced by those who battle wildfires in remote terrain.
The Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter, operated by Vernon Helicopters and under contract to the B.C. Forest Service, took off from Revelstoke at 4:30 p.m., according to RCMP records.
The aircraft was carrying a specialized “Rapp Attack” team from Wilderness Fire Management Inc., a newly formed company on its first contract. These teams are trained to rappel from helicopters into areas inaccessible by ground, a critical tactic for fighting fires in B.C.’s mountainous regions.
The team was en route to combat a fire near Beatrice Lake, about 125 kilometers south of Revelstoke, when disaster struck.
Just 45 minutes after takeoff, the helicopter crashed near Galena Bay, close to Highway 23.
While the crash site was within walking distance of the highway, it remains unclear if the pilot attempted an emergency landing on the road. All five on board perished.
The firefighters were part of Wilderness Fire Management Inc., founded by Reino Keski-Salmi, 28, of Salmon Arm, and Russell Gilchrist, 25, of Christina Lake. Keski-Salmi, a former member of Canada’s national cross-country ski team, had three years of firefighting experience in B.C. and had previously started a successful whitewater rafting business.
Gilchrist, who also had three years of experience fighting fires in Alberta, was his partner in the venture.
A third partner, Ray Ault, was not on the flight. The other firefighters killed were Roy A. Friesen, 27, of Abbotsford, and Michael A. Sherrod, 22, of New Denver. The pilot, Grant A. Thorpe, 32, of Vernon, was employed by Vernon Helicopters.
A coroner’s inquest in April 1986 revealed harrowing details of the crash.
A forest officer testified that Thorpe’s final radio transmission was, “Engine failure, going down,” followed by, “Get those doors open,” before the signal went silent.
The helicopter’s doors could only be opened in flight by being kicked out, a measure likely taken due to a fire in the cabin.
A source familiar with the team later suggested that engine bearings may have failed, sparking a blaze that spread to the passenger compartment.
Medical examinations supported this theory, finding smoke in the victims’ lungs, indicating they were exposed to fire before the crash. A Vernon pathologist who performed the autopsies described the bodies as “badly burned and fragmented,” estimating the helicopter hit the ground at approximately 190 km/h.
The crash occurred during one of B.C.’s most severe wildfire seasons on record. By early July 1985, over 750 fires were burning across the province, with firefighting costs reaching $45 million—equivalent to $108 million today.
The season was also deadly for others: William Francis Hauber, 40, of Quesnel, died on July 16 when his Caterpillar fell 45 meters down a bank northwest of Chetwynd, and David Alfred Smith, 22, was killed on July 14 by a falling rock near Golden.
Today, a small memorial stands at the crash site near Galena Bay, a five-minute drive and a 10-minute walk from Highway 23, just north of the ferry slip at Shelter Bay.
The site features a cairn, a plaque, and a rustic bench crafted from nearby trees. However, the area is now heavily overgrown, making it difficult to find.
Visitors have reported discovering remnants of a Nomex shirt—a material commonly worn by firefighters—and small pieces of the helicopter, though these are increasingly hidden by vegetation.
The five who lost their lives are honored at the National Memorial for Canadian Firefighters. Keski-Salmi, Friesen, and Sherrod are commemorated at location 24, while Gilchrist and Thorpe are remembered at location 23.
As B.C. faces another wildfire season, the 1985 tragedy underscores the bravery and sacrifice of those who risk their lives to protect the province’s forests and communities.
The story of Wilderness Fire Management’s ill-fated first mission remains a poignant chapter in the history of wildfire fighting in Canada.
"Special thanks to Adam from the Shelter Bay Guest House, 8200 Highway 23 S, Revelstoke, BC. Without his local knowledge, we would never have found the memorial cairn erected for the five lost firefighters."
5 BC Firefighters Death 40 Years Ago
Remembering the 1985 Helicopter Crash That Claimed Five Lives During B.C.’s Deadly Wildfire Season
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