Utah wildfire helicopter crash: What we know about two pilots who died fighting blaze as tributes pour in
Two firefighting pilots were killed when their Sikorsky S-64 helicopter crashed while battling Utah’s fast-growing Widemouth 2 Fire, officials confirmed Saturday, as tributes began pouring in for the two crew members who died while working to contain the blaze.
The helicopter, operated by Helicopter Transport Services under contract with the US Forest Service, went down near Richfield in Sevier County at about 10:40 a.m. Friday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. There were two people aboard.
The pilots’ identities had not been publicly released in the latest official statements. Their families have been notified.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox paid tribute to the two firefighters on X, saying they had “Utah will not forget the sacrifice they made.” and died while carrying out that mission.
“For the families, friends and fellow firefighters who are grieving tonight, I hope moments like this bring even a small amount of comfort knowing their loved ones are being honored and remembered,” Cox said in a social media post. He added that Utah would remember their “Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
What happened to the helicopter?
The S-64 firefighting helicopter crashed while crews were battling the Widemouth 2 Fire, which has rapidly expanded across south-central Utah.
The crash site was initially inaccessible because of dangerous fire conditions. The helicopter crash itself also sparked flames in surrounding vegetation, further complicating efforts to reach the wreckage.
Fire officials said crews could not immediately determine the condition of the two people aboard because the area was too dangerous to access. Investigators and emergency personnel were eventually able to reach the site and confirm the deaths.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. NTSB investigators were expected to arrive in Richfield, but officials said they would have to wait until conditions around the crash site were safe.
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The cause of the crash has not been determined.
Widemouth 2 Fire becomes Utah’s largest wildfire
The fatal crash came as the Widemouth 2 Fire surged to more than 111,000 acres, surpassing the Babylon Fire to become Utah’s largest wildfire of the year, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
The lightning-caused fire began July 27 and has spread across the Fishlake National Forest, reaching areas near Kanosh, Fillmore and Meadow, as well as land belonging to the Kanosh Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah.
The blaze was 24% contained as of Saturday morning, but officials warned that it was spreading aggressively toward the south and southwest.
Tony DeMasters of Great Basin Incident Management Team 2 described the fire as “angry” and “mad,” saying crews were working to prevent it from crossing Interstate 70.
More than 600 people were assigned to the fire, along with seven helicopters, 23 engines, nine bulldozers and nine water tenders.
