A firefighting helicopter crashed on Friday morning, August 9, 2026, near Richfield, Utah, killing the pilot and one crew member. The Sikorsky S-64 ‘Skycrane’, operated by Helicopter Transport Services under contract with the United States Forest Service, went down around 10 a.m. local time in the Three Creeks Reservoir area, close to the southeastern edge of the Widemouth 2 fire.

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) confirmed the deaths on Saturday, more than 24 hours after the crash, describing the two crew members as “fatally injured” and extending condolences to their families. Rescue teams were unable to reach the wreckage immediately due to major fire conditions and steep terrain.

Deputy incident commander Tyler Hecht said crews took a “tactical pause” to regroup following the crash before resuming firefighting operations. Hecht emphasized that the incident would not change their approach, stating, “We’re going to continue to fight fire and utilize aircraft to support our firefighters on the ground.”

Despite the tragedy, wildfire suppression efforts in Utah continue, with containment standing at 24 percent.

Sources