A pilot and a crew member have died following a helicopter crash while fighting a major wildfire in central Utah. The aircraft, a Sikorsky S-64 ‘Skycrane’ operated by Helicopter Transport Services for the United States Forest Service, went down at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time on Friday near the Three Creeks Reservoir, southwest of Richfield and adjacent to the Widemouth 2 fire.
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) confirmed the fatalities on Saturday, more than 24 hours after the incident, stating the crew members were “fatally injured.” The agency extended its “condolences to the friends and family of the deceased.” While the bodies were recovered on Saturday, officials have not yet released the names of the victims. The NIFC noted that extreme fire conditions and rugged, steep terrain initially prevented rescue teams from reaching the wreckage.
Deputy incident commander Tyler Hecht stated that firefighting operations underwent a brief “tactical pause” to regroup following the crash. He emphasized that the tragedy would not alter their strategy, adding, “We’re going to continue to fight fire and utilize aircraft to support our firefighters on the ground.” In response to the ongoing threat, the NIFC has implemented road closures and issued evacuation orders for residents in the vicinity.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox described wildland firefighting as “among the most dangerous jobs in the world” and requested that the public keep the crew in their prayers. On Saturday evening, the Utah Highway Patrol conducted a procession to escort the remains of the individuals, whom officials referred to as “fallen heroes.”
The Widemouth 2 fire, which began with a lightning strike in the Fishlake National Forest on July 27, has consumed over 111,000 acres and is currently on track to become the largest wildfire in Utah this year. As of Saturday, containment stood at 24 percent, with extreme fire behavior, including crowning and long-range spotting, continuing to pose risks to nearby communities. This incident marks the second fatal wildfire event in the state this summer, following the deaths of four firefighters in June during the response to the Knowles and Gore fires.
The Sikorsky S-64 ‘Skycrane’, operated by Helicopter Transport Services under contract with the United States Forest Service, went down about 10am local time on Friday (16:00 GMT) near Richfield, in the Three Creeks Rese
Source: Aljazeera
