Firefighting helicopter crashes while battling wildfire in US Utah
Los Angeles, Aug 8
A firefighting helicopter crashed Friday while battling a large wildfire in the US state of Utah, authorities said.
A Sikorsky S-64 helicopter carrying two people crashed near Richfield, Utah, around 10 a.m. local time (1700 GMT), according to the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Fire officials said the helicopter crashed in the vicinity of the Widemouth 2 Fire, currently the second-largest wildfire of Utah's 2026 fire season, reports Xinhua news agency.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene, according to authorities. Information on the condition of the two people aboard the helicopter was not immediately available.
The US Forest Service at Fishlake National Forest said in a post on social media that emergency personnel were on the scene.
"Our top priority is responding to the incident. Local, state, and federal authorities are assisting in the response," it said. "Information will be released as soon as it is available. Please be patient as the response to this incident continues to occur and safety actions are prioritized first."
The lightning-caused wildfire, which was discovered on July 27, has burned more than 105,000 acres (about 425 square km), and is 19 per cent contained, according to Utah Fire Info, the interagency public information resource on wildfires in the state.
More than 600 firefighting personnel are battling the blaze, which has triggered evacuations and destroyed at least six structures as it burns through timber, brush and grass.
Earlier in June, four firefighters were killed and a fifth injured after being caught in a fast-moving wildfire in Colorado. As flames rapidly engulfed their position, the crew deployed tent-like emergency fire shelters in an attempt to protect themselves from the blaze.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's heartbreaking to see these brave firefighters risk their lives. The Widemouth 2 Fire has already burned over 105,000 acres—that's massive. My thoughts are with the crew and their families. Firefighting is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, and they deserve all our respect.
As someone from Bangalore who deals with extreme heat every year, I can't imagine how terrifying a wildfire like this must be. The fact that over 600 personnel are fighting this blaze shows incredible bravery. Hoping for a positive outcome for the two on board the helicopter. Stay safe, everyone.
This is terrible news. It feels like these wildfire seasons are getting worse every year—and not just in the US but worldwide. I really hope the two people aboard are okay. These firefighters are true heroes. Praying for their safety and for all those affected by the fire.
Serious respect for these firefighters. This reminds me of the forest fires we face in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh every summer. The loss of the four firefighters in Colorado earlier this year was a tragedy—I hope history doesn't repeat itself. We need better global cooperation on climate change and disaster response.
This is really concerning. A Sikorsky S-64 is a specialized machine, and if something went wrong with it, that raises questions. But right now, the focus should be on the crew. Let's hope they are rescued quickly. Our first responders put their lives on the line every day, and we owe them everything.
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