On April 19‚ 1990‚ Fire Chief Kaye F. ‘Andy’ Anderson was transporting Chief Karl Drews back by plane after investigating the North end of the island for the best approach to installing drafting points to allow an for an improved ISO rating for that portion of the island as well as to test a draft point for GPM flow.

Shortly after take off‚ the plane’s engine sputtered‚ backfired and quit. The plane began to descend but after falling approximately 100 feet‚ the engine restarted and accelerated to full power although the plane did not recover from the descent and crashed into the water killing Chiefs Anderson and Drews.