Status of 2 on board firefighting helicopter unknown after crash near Widemouth 2 Fire

Key Points:

• A Sikorsky S-64 firefighting helicopter carrying two people crashed near Richfield, Utah, close to the Widemouth 2 Fire, but rescue teams have been unable to reach the site due to active fire conditions and steep terrain.
• The crash occurred around 10 a.m. near Three Creeks Reservoir, and the helicopter was part of the firefighting efforts on the Widemouth 2 Fire, with the status of those onboard currently unknown.
• Fire conditions remain too dangerous for emergency personnel to access the crash site, with crews hoping to reach it within the next 24 hours, according to the Great Basin Incident Management Team 2.
• The Widemouth 2 Fire has burned over 106,000 acres since starting July 27, fueled by hot, dry, and windy weather, and is now likely the largest fire in Utah this year.
• Governor Spencer Cox expressed condolences and urged Utahns to pray for the crews, highlighting the dangers faced by wildland firefighters, especially following recent fatal incidents in the region.