A Sikorsky S-64 firefighting helicopter carrying two people crashed Friday morning near Richfield, Utah, about 160 miles south of Salt Lake City, while battling the Widemouth 2 fire in Fishlake National Forest. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the crash, and the impact sparked a new fire at the scene. Rescuers had not reached the wreckage by Friday evening, and the condition of the two crew members remains unknown.
The Widemouth 2 fire has scorched more than 105,000 acres since 27 July. By Friday, it had grown to 165 square miles and was 19% contained, with more than 600 personnel fighting the blaze, which has destroyed at least six structures and triggered evacuations.
Eight large fires are burning across Utah, covering more than 331,000 acres, as red flag warnings remain in effect due to erratic winds and extreme heat. The NTSB expects investigators to arrive in Richfield by Saturday night to join the FAA in examining the cause of the crash.