A firefighting helicopter crashed in Southern California while fighting a blaze in Riverside County on Sunday, emergency officials said. The helicopter was performing work under contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, fire captain and spokesman Richard Cordova said. A firefighting helicopter crashed in Southern California while fighting a blaze in Riverside County on Sunday, emergency officials said. The helicopter was performing work under contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, fire captain and spokesman Richard Cordova said.