Families of Pilots Demand State Pay Death Benefits

The families of 14 air tanker pilots killed while battling California wildfires jointly filed a claim with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection seeking more than $4 million in death benefits, according to a report by the Sacramento Bee. Paul Goyette, an attorney representing the families, said state officials misrepresented to survivors that the federal government was the only source for death benefit claims. But the federal government excludes contractors, including firefighting pilots, from collecting death benefits. State law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Pr...