A pilot and crew member died after their firefighting helicopter crashed while battling the Widemouth 2 wildfire in Utah.
Key facts
- •The crash occurred near the southeastern edge of the Widemouth 2 fire in central Utah.
- •The helicopter was a Sikorsky S-64 ‘Skycrane’ under contract with the U.S. Forest Service.
- •The Widemouth 2 fire has burned more than 111,000 acres since it started on July 27.
- •This incident marks the second fatal wildfire event in Utah this summer, following four firefighter deaths in June.
- •The names of the two deceased crew members have not yet been released.
A pilot and one crew member were killed when their Sikorsky S-64 ‘Skycrane’ helicopter crashed on Friday morning near Richfield, Utah. The aircraft, operated by Helicopter Transport Services for the U.S. Forest Service, went down near the Widemouth 2 fire. The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed the fatalities on Saturday after rescue teams reached the wreckage.
By the numbers
Crash and Recovery Efforts
The helicopter crashed at approximately 10:00 am local time in the Three Creeks Reservoir area. Extreme fire conditions and steep terrain initially prevented rescue teams from accessing the site. The bodies of the two crew members were recovered on Saturday, and the Utah Highway Patrol held a procession to escort their remains.
Firefighting Operations Continue
The Widemouth 2 fire, which began on July 27 due to a lightning strike in Fishlake National Forest, has burned over 111,000 acres. As of Saturday, containment stood at 24 percent, with officials reporting extreme fire behavior such as crowning and long-range spotting. Deputy incident commander Tyler Hecht stated that crews took a brief tactical pause following the crash but resumed firefighting operations.
Timeline
- July 27The Widemouth 2 fire ignited in Fishlake National Forest following a lightning strike.
- FridayThe firefighting helicopter crashed near Richfield, Utah, at approximately 10:00 am.
- SaturdayThe National Interagency Fire Center confirmed the deaths and rescue teams recovered the bodies.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Al Jazeera.
