Utah Faces Third Massive Wildfire of Year: 'Not a Record We're Proud Of'
Dangerous fire conditions have prevented crews from reaching the site of a crashed firefighting helicopter carrying two people.
A wildfire in central Utah has scorched over 114,000 acres, making it the state's largest fire so far this year. Utah Governor Spencer Cox called the blaze the third major fire to reach around 100,000 acres this year, expressing pride in the firefighting efforts but expressing gratitude for the work being done. The intense fire conditions have hampered search-and-rescue operations, preventing crews from reaching the crash site of a firefighting helicopter that was carrying two crew members.
The pilot and passenger of the helicopter have since been recovered. The Widemouth 2 Fire, located in Fishlake National Forest, ignited from lightning on July 27 and is currently 24 percent contained. Despite the efforts of over 600 people, including nine crews, seven helicopters, 23 engines, and nine dozers and water tenders, six structures have been destroyed.
Officials have warned that the fire could spread rapidly due to low humidity, high temperatures, and strong winds. The U.S. Forest Service has placed the crash site within the fire perimeter, citing safety concerns and the inaccessible crash site. The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed that the two crew members aboard the helicopter were killed in the crash, though families were notified by Helicopter Transport Services.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident.
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