Helicopter crash kills pilot and crew member amid Utah wildfire battle

A pilot and a crew member died when their firefighting helicopter crashed while battling a large wildfire in central Utah. The Sikorsky S-64 ‘Skycrane’ went down around 10 a.m. local time on Friday near Richfield, in the Three Creeks Reservoir area, close to the Widemouth 2 fire.

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) confirmed the fatalities on Saturday, over 24 hours after the crash. The agency stated that extreme fire conditions and steep terrain delayed rescue teams from reaching the wreckage. The bodies were recovered on Saturday, but the identities of the deceased have not yet been released.

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It’s not going to change how we operate. We’re going to continue to fight fire and utilize aircraft to support our firefighters on the ground.

Following the crash, crews took a "tactical pause" to regroup before resuming their work. Deputy incident commander Tyler Hecht assured that the incident would not alter their operational strategy, emphasizing their commitment to continuing firefighting efforts and utilizing aircraft. Utah Governor Spencer Cox acknowledged the extreme danger of wildland firefighting and asked residents to keep the crew in their thoughts.

The Widemouth 2 fire, ignited by lightning on July 27 in Fishlake National Forest, has scorched more than 111,000 acres. Officials reported containment at 24 percent on Saturday, noting that extreme fire behavior continues to threaten nearby communities. This marks Utah's second fatal wildfire incident this summer; four firefighters died in June battling other blazes.

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among the most dangerous jobs in the world