Firefighting Helicopter Crashes in Utah; Fate of Two Onboard Unknown

A Sikorsky S-64 firefighting helicopter crashed during wildfire suppression operations in Utah, and the fate of its two occupants remains unknown.

According to USA Today, the incident occurred near the city of Richfield, an area currently battling the ‘Widemouth 2’ wildfire. U.S. officials have stated that ongoing fire spread and difficult access to the crash site have hindered efforts to assess the status of those onboard.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the helicopter had two crew members and that investigations into the cause of the crash have begun.

The ‘Widemouth 2’ wildfire started on July 27 in central Utah and has since consumed more than 106,000 hectares, making it one of the largest recent wildfires in the state.