nht From Lifesaver to Patient: Hero Fire Rescue Pilot Fighting for Life After Horrific Medevac Crash
From Lifesaver to Patient: Hero Fire Rescue Pilot Fighting for Life After Horrific Medevac Crash
SACRAMENTO, CA – The call for help that rattled the skies over Sacramento this week has a heartbreaking twist: the man fighting for his life in the ICU is a legend known for answering the most desperate calls in California’s darkest hours.
Retired officer Chad Millward, a decorated veteran celebrated for his fearless role in rescuing over 40 trapped victimsduring one of California’s most devastating wildfires, is now the patient. Millward was piloting the medical helicopter that suffered a catastrophic, unexplained crash earlier this week, leaving the renowned hero clinging to life.
The Eerie Irony of Fate
The irony is as cruel as it is palpable. For years, Millward soared above the chaos of the state’s massive infernos—from the deadly Camp Fire to the relentless Dixie Fire—often making perilous, low-visibility flights to pluck families from the path of the flames.
“Chad never hesitated. When others flew away from the smoke, he flew straight into it,” said a former colleague from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “He was the voice of calm, the last hope on the radio. Now, he is the one fighting to hear that voice of hope.”
Details surrounding the helicopter crash remain sparse as investigators comb the wreckage. What is confirmed is that the chopper went down while on a critical medical transport mission in the greater Sacramento area. Millward, along with the rest of the crew, sustained severe injuries and was rushed to the very type of trauma center he routinely supported.
A Community Holds Its Breath
Millward is currently recovering in the hospital, where his condition is described as serious but stable. Sources confirm he underwent immediate, extensive surgery following the crash.
His wife, speaking briefly outside the hospital, issued a tearful plea to the public:
“Please, keep him in your thoughts. The community he saved—we need them now. Chad needs their strength and their prayers. He’s a fighter, but this is the fight of his life.”
The incident has sent a wave of shock and grief through California’s tight-knit first responder community. Tributes are pouring in, not just recognizing his decades of service, but focusing on the tragic suddenness of the event.
As the investigation into the crash continues, the focus remains squarely on the man who gave so much. The community he once rescued is now united in one singular mission: to see their hero, Chad Millward, pull through the toughest flight of his career.
The State is asking everyone to contribute to the official support fund established for the Millward family as they face the long road to recovery.
