Helicopter battling Utah wildfire crashes with no word on the 2 people aboard
The helicopter was one of seven working the fire in central Utah that was caused by lightning on July 27.
In Richfield, Utah, a heavy-lift helicopter battling a wildfire crashed on Friday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The incident left no immediate information about the wellbeing of the two individuals aboard. The helicopter was part of a fleet of seven employed to combat a blaze that originated from lightning on July 27 in central Utah.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the crash of the Sikorsky S64 helicopter in Richfield. The Sevier County Sheriff had not yet provided comments on the crash, and the FAA and wildfire authorities lacked details on the conditions of the two onboard. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA have pledged to investigate the crash, but reaching the scene could be challenging if the wildfire continues to burn nearby.
As of Friday, the wildfire had expanded to cover 165 square miles and was 19% contained. The helicopter that met its demise was among the seven assigned to tackle the blaze. Crews were issued warnings on Friday morning, indicating that erratic winds, arid fuels, high temperatures, and the possibility of dry thunderstorms and lightning were all anticipated, with Red Flag warnings in effect.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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