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A firefighting helicopter battling a Utah blaze crashed on Aug. 7, and authorities said they were struggling to reach the scene as the wildfire consumes the area, leaving the conditions of two on board unknown.
The Sikorsky S64 helicopter crashed near Richfield, Utah, at about 10 a.m. local time in the are of the Widemouth 2 Fire, which has burned more than 106,000 acres since it began July 27 in the central part of the state. The Federal Aviation Administration said two people were on board.
The helicopter was actively fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire, said Tyler Hecht of the Great Basin Incident Management Team 2. Hecht told reporters on Aug. 7 that crews had not yet been able to reach the scene of the crash due to dangerous fire conditions that could put responders at risk, but they hoped to reach it within 24 hours.
“It’s actively burning in that area,” Hecht said. “We didn’t want to put them at any more risk until we know it’s safe.”
The conditions of the people on board the helicopter were unknown.
Hecht said the fire behavior has been “extreme” on its south end for several days near the crash site. The crash itself started a new fire that crews are also engaged with, he said.
“Wildland firefighting is among the most dangerous jobs in the world. Today is a painful reminder of the extraordinary risks these brave men and women accept to protect us,” Gov. Spencer Cox said. “We ask all Utahns to keep them in your prayers and to give investigators and emergency responders the time and space they need.”
Firefighters will continue to use aircraft to battle the flames despite the crash, Hecht said. The type of helicopter that crashed can carry heavy loads and is commonly used in firefighting operations, with the ability to carry a more than 2,000-gallon tank.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the crash.
The Widemouth 2 Fire, believed to be caused by a lightning strike, was about 19% contained as of an update on Aug. 7. At least six structures have burned down in the fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service at Fishlake National Forest. Seven helicopters were assigned to fight it, the agency said.
The United States is in a period of “peak national fire activity,” with at least 95 large wildfires burning across the country, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The West has been dealing with extreme fire behavior with blazes also in Oregon and Washington state. A trio of blazes in the Spokane, Washington, area that began a week ago forced tens of thousands to flee their homes and burned down hundreds of buildings, including in residential areas.