Los Angeles, August 8: A firefighting helicopter crashed while battling a severe wildfire in Utah on Friday, local time. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a Sikorsky S-64 helicopter, carrying two individuals, went down near Richfield, Utah, around 10 AM.
Fire officials reported that the helicopter crashed close to the Wide Mouth 2 fire, which is currently the second-largest wildfire in Utah for 2026. Emergency personnel have been dispatched to the scene, but there is no immediate update on the condition of the two people aboard.
The U.S. Forest Service at Fishlake National Forest announced on social media that emergency responders are on-site. They stated, “Our top priority is to respond to this incident. Local, state, and federal officials are assisting in the response. Details will be released as information becomes available. Please be patient as we continue to respond to this event, prioritizing safety measures.”
According to the state’s Inter-Agency Public Information Agency, Utah Fire Info, the wildfire, sparked by lightning on July 27, has consumed over 105,000 acres, approximately 425 square kilometers. Currently, only 19% of the fire has been contained.
More than 600 firefighters are actively working to extinguish the blaze. The rapidly spreading fire, fueled by burning timber, brush, and grass, has destroyed at least six structures.
In early June, a rapidly spreading wildfire in Colorado claimed the lives of four firefighters and injured a fifth. As the fire quickly surrounded their location, the crew constructed emergency fire shelters to protect themselves.
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