Overview
- A Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane contracted to the U.S. Forest Service crashed near Richfield while fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire, and officials confirmed the two people aboard were fatally injured.
- The helicopter went down on Friday about 10 a.m. local time in steep terrain and the crash ignited a separate fire that merged with the main blaze, blocking immediate access to the site.
- Rescue teams and investigators could not reach the wreckage because it lay inside the active fire perimeter, and the NTSB has opened a lead investigation that may take months to determine probable cause.
- Incident commanders paused tactical operations at the scene for safety before resuming broader firefighting work, and aerial support continues where commanders judge it safe to fly.
- The Widemouth 2 Fire began July 27, has burned well over 100,000 acres with extreme behavior, prompted evacuations and road closures, and has strained regional firefighting resources during a heavy 2026 fire season.