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Heavy‑Lift Helicopter Crashes While Fighting Utah Wildfire

Because the wreckage sits inside the active Widemouth 2 Fire, investigators cannot reach the site to confirm the condition of the two people aboard.

The Widemouth 2 Fire has now surpassed the Cottonwood Fire in size, making it the second-largest wildfire in Utah this year and putting it on track to become the state's largest before the weekend. (Photo: Jason Robison)
Pilot and crew member die in helicopter crash battling Utah fire
A helicopter carrying two people crashed near a massive wildfire burning in central Utah on Friday, federal aviation officials confirmed.
A Sikorsky S-64 helicopter crashed near Richfield, Utah, at about 10 a.m. local time Friday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. (Photo: Jason Robison)

Overview

  • A Sikorsky S‑64 Skycrane contracted to fight the Widemouth 2 Fire crashed near Richfield on Friday, Aug. 7, and federal officials say two people were aboard.
  • The crash ignited new flames that connected with the main blaze and left the wreckage inside the fire perimeter, preventing safe ground access for searchers.
  • Interagency reports conflict on casualties: the National Interagency Fire Center listed both people as fatally injured while the Widemouth 2 incident management team says there is no confirmed status.
  • Widemouth 2 has scorched well over 100,000 acres with containment in the teens to mid‑20s percent and more than 600 personnel plus multiple helicopters assigned, stretching regional resources.
  • The FAA and the NTSB have opened an investigation that will move forward only when crews can safely reach the site, and the incident highlights the risks of heavy‑lift aviation in steep, fast‑moving wildfires.