Helicopter crash occurs amid massive Utah wildfire fighting efforts

Around 10 a.m. on Friday, a Sikorsky S64 helicopter operating over the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah crashed near Richfield, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft was carrying two people, and their health status remains unknown. Great Basin Team 2, the crew tasked with the fire, acknowledged the incident to media outlets.

A local observer reported seeing smoke rise from the crash site, and photographs showed a plume above a nearby hill. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have opened investigations into the accident. The fire, ignited by lightning on July 27, has expanded to over 106,450 acres and involves dozens of aircraft and over 600 personnel.