Two-person firefighting helicopter crashes near Utah's Widemouth 2 Fire

A Sikorsky S-64 firefighting helicopter carrying two crew members crashed around 10 a.m. Friday in the Three Creeks Reservoir area southwest of Richfield, Utah, near the southeast edge of the Widemouth 2 Fire, federal aviation officials said. The aircraft was part of the Great Basin Incident Management Team's operations against the blaze, but the condition of the two occupants remains unknown.

Emergency responders have been unable to access the crash site because of steep terrain and intense fire activity on the southern flank of the wildfire, which is close to Interstate 70. Deputy incident commander Tyler Hecht said crews hope to reach the location within the next 24 hours, but safety considerations are preventing immediate entry.

The Widemouth 2 Fire, ignited by a lightning strike on July 27, has burned more than 106,000 acres and is projected to become the largest wildfire in Utah this year. On Friday, the incident was being fought with seven helicopters, 23 fire engines, nine bulldozers, nine water tenders and a total of 632 personnel.

The cause of the helicopter crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. A witness reported seeing smoke rising from the area shortly after the aircraft passed overhead.

Governor Spencer Cox posted a message asking the public to keep the firefighting crews in their thoughts, noting the inherent dangers of wildland firefighting.