Two killed in helicopter crash while fighting Utah wildfire

Two people are believed to have been killed following a helicopter crash in Millard County while battling the massive Widemouth 2 Fire. The aircraft, identified as a Sikorsky S-64 or Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter, went down at approximately 10:40 a.m. On Friday near Richfield. According to reporting from The Guardian, the aircraft was contracted by the US Forest Service and operated by Helicopter Transport Services. The unfolding tragedy struck during efforts to contain the Widemouth 2 Fire in Millard County and the Fishlake National Forest.

Initial confusion surrounded the status of the flight personnel. Officials with the National Interagency Fire Center initially stated that both the pilot and crewmember had died. However, local Widemouth 2 Fire officials released a contradictory statement several hours later cautioning that there was no official confirmation regarding the victims' status due to intense flames preventing direct access. Due to the continued large fire growth and unsafe conditions, emergency responders are still unable to access the scene or victims as of this morning, local fire officials said.

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The extreme fire behavior and immense smoke created a hazardous environment right within the perimeter of the existing disaster. The impact of the crash triggered a new secondary brush fire that spread to connect with the existing blaze, complicating rescue efforts immediately. Ground resources attempted to respond immediately, but access to the scene was compromised by the emergent fire, the US Forest Service explained in a Saturday statement. Without a safety zone, the Incident Management Team determined not to place lives at risk until the area is deemed safe.

By Saturday, the Sevier County sheriff and coroner were finally able to access the wreckage site alongside crews, officially confirming the fatalities. Officials did not identify the pilots by name. Following the confirmation, authorities urged the public to exercise restraint, pleading with community members to halt the spread of online speculation and unverified claims out of respect for the victims and their families. We ask that the public refrain from spreading rumors or guessing about this incident, officials stated, noting that many false reports had already circulated.

The Widemouth 2 Fire has rapidly expanded into the largest blaze of Utah's 2026 fire season, eclipsing the Babylon Fire, which had previously burned more than 107,000 acres in San Juan County. State and federal data cited by The Guardian indicates that the Widemouth 2 Fire has scorched more than 114,600 acres—translating to nearly 174 square miles or approximately 451skm—and achieved 24% containment as of Saturday. This figure marked a jump from early on Friday, where the fire’s scope was reported as reaching more than 105,000 acres, while other reports noted the fire has burned over 111,000 acres in central Utah. This destructive season follows other fatal wildfire incidents in the American West, including a June emergency along the Colorado-Utah border that claimed the lives of multiple firefighters.

Investigation and Next Steps

Federal oversight agencies have launched formal inquiries into the mechanical and environmental factors surrounding the crash. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) deployed to Richfield immediately following Friday's accident to determine the cause, which has not yet been determined.

• Federal investigators with the NTSB must thoroughly document the wreckage site before retrieving the aircraft.
• NTSB officials have cautioned that determining the definitive cause of the crash will likely take a year or more.
• Containment efforts on the Widemouth 2 Fire continue as weather and safety conditions allow, while Incident Management Teams monitor hotspots generated by the secondary brush fire.