A Utah wildfire has blocked access to a helicopter crash site after a pilot and crewmember were fatally injured while fighting the massive Widemouth 2 Fire near Richfield.
A dangerous wildfire in central Utah has prevented emergency responders from safely reaching the site of a firefighting helicopter crash that killed two crew members, officials said.
The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane crashed Friday while assisting crews battling the massive Widemouth 2 Fire in the Fishlake National Forest near Richfield, Utah.
The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed that the pilot and one crewmember were fatally injured in the crash.
However, the continuing wildfire has made the remote crash site too dangerous for additional responders to reach.
Wildfire Blocks Access to Crash Site
The crash site is now inside the active fire perimeter, according to the Widemouth 2 incident management team.
Fire officials said Saturday that they had decided not to put additional lives at risk by sending crews into the area while the fire remained dangerous.
That means investigators and emergency personnel have not yet been able to safely access the wreckage.
Officials said they will work to reach the site when fire conditions allow.
The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to investigate the crash once investigators can safely examine the wreckage.
Authorities have urged the public not to speculate about the cause of the crash while the investigation remains pending.
Two Firefighting Crew Members Killed
The helicopter was carrying two people when it crashed Friday morning during firefighting operations.
The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed that the pilot and one crewmember were fatally injured.
The identities of the two crew members had not been publicly released in the latest reports.
The crash occurred while the helicopter was supporting firefighting operations on the Widemouth 2 Fire, highlighting the dangerous conditions facing crews working to contain the massive Utah blaze.
Widemouth 2 Fire Has Burned Nearly 174 Square Miles
The Widemouth 2 Fire has continued to spread across central Utah.
The fire, which was sparked by lightning on July 27, has burned nearly 174 square miles, or approximately 451 square kilometres, according to the latest reporting.
The blaze has been burning in difficult terrain and remains a major challenge for firefighters.
Hundreds of personnel and multiple aircraft have been involved in suppression operations.
The helicopter crash also sparked another fire in the area, which subsequently became part of the larger fire situation.
Crash Investigation Will Begin When Conditions Allow
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are expected to investigate the helicopter crash.
Investigators have not yet been able to safely examine the wreckage because of the active fire surrounding the site.
Officials have cautioned against speculation about what caused the crash.
The investigation could take significant time once investigators are able to access the site and examine the aircraft and surrounding conditions.
A Dangerous Firefighting Operation
The crash occurred as firefighters across the western United States continued battling rapidly spreading wildfires.
In Utah, the Widemouth 2 Fire has presented difficult conditions for ground and aviation crews, while the crash itself created an additional emergency inside an already dangerous fire environment.
The decision to delay access to the wreckage underscores the continuing hazards around the fire perimeter.
Officials are prioritizing the safety of emergency personnel while continuing efforts to gain control of the wildfire.
Widemouth 2 Helicopter Crash: What We Know
Location: Fishlake National Forest near Richfield, Utah
County: Sevier County
Fire: Widemouth 2 Fire
Aircraft: Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane
People aboard: 2
Confirmed fatalities: 2
Crash: Friday, August 7, 2026
Fire size: Nearly 174 square miles (451 square kilometres)
Crash-site access: Currently blocked by dangerous fire conditions
Investigation: FAA and NTSB
Cause: Under investigation
The Widemouth 2 Fire remains an active and dangerous wildfire in central Utah, while officials work to safely reach the site of the fatal helicopter crash.
The pilot and crewmember were fatally injured during firefighting operations, but investigators must wait for conditions around the wreckage to become safe enough to begin their examination.
Fire crews continue working to contain the wildfire while authorities monitor conditions around the crash site.