Mourners came together to remember two firefighters who died while helping battle the Yosemite Dome Fire, as one grieving widow reflected on her husband’s passion for the work he loved.
Nina Pacchia, the wife of Utah helicopter pilot Ryan Cutter, shared memories of their relationship while expressing gratitude for the support she has received since his death.
“I knew Ryan was doing what he loved. It’s very rare to find someone who loves what they do like Ryan did,” Pacchia told The Park Record.
Pacchia said she had not fully thought of Cutter simply as a firefighter until the memorials began, describing the tributes as formal, compassionate and deeply moving. “They’ve really wrapped their arms around me, and I know they’ve done the same with Kelly, the other pilot’s wife. She and I communicate every day,” she said.
She added that invitations to memorial events and to Christmas gatherings hosted by Precision Helicopter, the company that operated the aircraft, will allow her to remain connected to Cutter’s memory and the community he served.
“I don’t know how I’m going to move forward, but the generosity, it’s a memorialization of Ryan’s (own) generosity,” Pacchia said.
Cutter and Pacchia met in 2012 and married four years later, after their friendship developed into a relationship. By the time they met, Cutter was already a helicopter pilot, as well as an experienced BASE jumper, paraglider and skydiver.
Becoming a firefighting pilot had long been Cutter’s ambition. His dedication to the role grew after he moved from air-medical aviation into wildfire response in 2017.
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A procession was held Tuesday for Cutter and Greg King, an Alaskan pilot, after both men died in a helicopter crash while responding to the Yosemite fire.
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Following a joint memorial procession in California the previous week, the pilots were transported to their home states, where additional tributes were held.
The two firefighters lost their lives when their aircraft went down during efforts to contain the wildfire.
The Yosemite Dome Fire scorched thousands of acres, and officials revealed Tuesday that the blaze was started by an abandoned campfire.
According to Cal Fire, the wildfire began at about 7 a.m. on Sept. 15 and ultimately burned roughly 5,500 acres, prompting the closure of several trails inside Yosemite National Park.
By Wednesday, firefighters had brought the blaze to more than one-third containment.
Fundraisers have been launched to help Cutter’s wife cope with his death and manage the family’s financial needs. A separate GoFundMe campaign is supporting King’s wife and daughters.
Cutter’s fundraiser had collected more than $82,700, while the campaign for King’s family had surpassed $104,000.
