Sikorsky firefighting helicopter crashes near Richfield, Utah
A Sikorsky S-64 helicopter carrying two crew members crashed near the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah; the cause is under investigation by the FAA and NTSB.
A Sikorsky S-64 helicopter crashed near Richfield, Utah, at about 10 a.m. local time on Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The aircraft was operating near the south end of the Widemouth 2 Fire on the Fishlake National Forest and had two people on board.
The Sevier County Sheriff's Office and local search and rescue teams responded to the Three Creeks Reservoir area, but fire conditions delayed access to the crash site. Officials are coordinating with the fire's incident command to determine when it will be safe for investigators to enter.
Governor Spencer Cox issued a statement acknowledging the incident and asking the public to allow investigators and emergency responders time to work.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with the NTSB providing updates as they become available. The Widemouth 2 Fire is the second-largest blaze of Utah's 2026 fire season, following the Babylon Fire that burned more than 107,000 acres.