Helicopter Crash Claims Lives Near Utah Wildfire Amid Ongoing Firefighting Efforts A pilot and a crewmember were killed after the helicopter they were riding in crashed near a massive wildfire burning in central Utah on Friday. The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed the fatalities on Saturday, though the identities and ages of the victims were not immediately released. The crash occurred in the Three Creeks Reservoir area, southwest of Richfield, close to the southeast end of the Widemouth 2 Fire. Authorities noted that fire conditions had made it difficult to access the scene, complicating rescue and investigation efforts. The southern end of the fire, near I-70, has been one of the fire’s most active sections, and the crash itself ignited new flames. Great Basin Team 2 assumed command of the fire earlier this week after the blaze expanded in size at the beginning of the month. On Friday, seven helicopters, 23 engines, nine dozers, and nine water tenders were deployed alongside 632 total personnel. The Sikorsky S-64, also known as a Skycrane, was involved in the crash. This heavy-lift helicopter, commonly used for firefighting with bucket or fixed tank configurations, is operated by Siller Helicopters. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board. Tyler Hecht, deputy incident commander for the Great Basin Incident Management Team 2, described the mood as “somber” following the crash. Firefighters paused briefly after the incident but resumed their work, acknowledging the ongoing threats to communities and infrastructure near I-70. Hecht emphasized that the crash would not alter operational strategies, stating, “We’re going to continue to fight fire and utilize aircraft to support our firefighters on the ground.#faa #three_creeks_reservoir #widemouth_2_fire #siller_helicopters #great_basin_team_2
