Tragic Helicopter Crash Claims Lives of Firefighters in Utah
WHO:
KSL News - The names and ages of the deceased crew members have not been released.
Al Jazeera - A pilot and one crew member were confirmed dead after their firefighting helicopter crashed.
KSL News - The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed the fatalities and stated the helicopter was on contract with the U.S. Forest Service.
KSL News - Utah Governor Spencer Cox expressed condolences and highlighted the bravery of the firefighters.
WHAT:
Al Jazeera - The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed the deaths more than 24 hours after the crash.
KSL News - The Widemouth 2 fire has now burned at least 111,000 acres, surpassing the Babylon Fire as the state's largest fire this year.
Al Jazeera - The Sikorsky S-64 ‘Skycrane’ helicopter crashed while battling a massive wildfire, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and crew member.
Al Jazeera - The Widemouth 2 fire has burned more than 111,000 acres (45,000 hectares) and is on pace to become Utah’s largest wildfire this year.
KSL News - The crash occurred shortly after 10:30 a.m. local time and ignited vegetation in the area.
KSL News - The National Interagency Fire Center reported the fire's containment at 24 percent.
WHERE:
KSL News - The crash site is located in the Three Creeks Reservoir area, southwest of Richfield, Utah.
Al Jazeera - The crash occurred near Richfield, in the Three Creeks Reservoir area, close to the southeastern edge of the Widemouth 2 fire.
KSL News - The crash site is located southwest of Richfield, Utah.
WHEN:
Al Jazeera - The helicopter crashed around 10 a.m. local time on a Friday.
Al Jazeera - The Widemouth 2 fire ignited from a lightning strike on July 27.
WHY:
Al Jazeera - The crash occurred during firefighting efforts amid extreme fire conditions and steep terrain.
HOW:
KSL News - Great Basin Team 2 assumed command of the fire earlier in the week, with 632 total personnel assigned to the firefighting efforts.
KSL News - The helicopter was operated by Helicopter Transport Services and was used for firefighting operations.
KSL News - The National Interagency Fire Center stated that the crash will be investigated by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board.
(UPDATED August 9, 2026 08:09 UTC)
The National Interagency Fire Center has confirmed the deaths of crew members involved in a crash at the Three Creeks Reservoir area, southwest of Richfield, Utah, although their names and ages have not yet been released. Meanwhile, the Widemouth 2 fire has now burned at least 111,000 acres, making it the largest fire in the state this year, surpassing the Babylon Fire. Great Basin Team 2 is currently in command of the firefighting efforts, with a total of 632 personnel assigned to tackle the blaze.
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(UPDATED August 9, 2026 04:59 UTC)
A pilot and a crew member tragically lost their lives when their Sikorsky S-64 ‘Skycrane’ helicopter crashed while battling the Widemouth 2 fire near Richfield, Utah. The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed the fatalities and reported that the fire, which ignited from a lightning strike on July 27, has burned over 111,000 acres and is currently 24 percent contained. Utah Governor Spencer Cox expressed his condolences and praised the bravery of the firefighters involved in these dangerous operations, while the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.