On September 29, 2026, the Honor Guard processed from Anchorage to Palmer, carrying home Alaskan wildland firefighter and pilot Greg King, who died while fighting the Dome Fire in Yosemite, California. A contracted Super Puma helicopter supporting the firefighting operations crashed, resulting in the deaths of both individuals onboard, Greg King and his fellow pilot Ryan Cutter from Utah.
The procession began at 5:00 PM, departing from near Raspberry Road in Anchorage and ending prior to North Snowgoose Road in Palmer. Community members, emergency responders, and agency partners gathered at Delaney Park, the Palmer Fred Meyer parking lot, and the Alaska State Fairgrounds to honor King as the procession passed.
“This is a devastating loss for our agency and the entire wildland firefighting community,” a press release from the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection stated. “Greg was a dedicated aviator and a dear friend to many of us. We are mourning both pilots who bravely supported firefighting efforts, and our hearts go out to their families. We are standing alongside our staff and Greg’s loved ones as we grieve this profound tragedy together.”
The fire and the incident are being managed by California Incident Management Team 3. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Prayers are requested for the grieving family and friends of Greg King whose firefighting heroism cost him his life.
