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Plane CrashesVersion 2

Two Crew Killed in Helicopter Crash on Utah's Wide-Mouth Wildfire

A Sikorsky S-64 on contract with the U.S. Forest Service went down near Richfield, Utah, on Aug. 7; the FAA and NTSB are investigating.

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 9, 2026, 4:45 a.m. ETUpdated Aug 13, 2026, 3:18 a.m. ET
crew members were killed when a helicopter working the Wide-Mouth wildfire crashed near , , at on Aug. 7, 2026, according to reporting by five iHeart stations, including NewsRadio Rhode Island and WOOD Radio. The situation remains developing. Those outlets reported that the National Interagency Fire Center confirmed the fatalities and that the identities of those killed have not been released. The aircraft was a on contract with the U.S. Forest Service, according to the same reports. The crash site lies within the footprint of the Wide-Mouth fire, which the outlets reported has complicated rescue efforts, and the crash ignited new flames. The Wide-Mouth fire was sparked by lightning on July 27 and has burned more than 111,000 acres, the outlets reported, with the fire 19% contained and 632 personnel and seven helicopters engaged. Governor Spencer Cox said of the crew: "They put themselves in harm's way to protect our state and gave their lives in that service." The cause of the crash has not been determined. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, and the NTSB plans to reach the crash site once conditions improve, according to the reports. Weather observations recorded at Municipal Airport, .6 miles away and 25 minutes from the reported time of the crash, showed variable wind at 1 knot, visibility 7 statute miles, clear skies with haze and a temperature of 79°F. The observation is an instrument reading and is not a stated factor in the crash.

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Reference data

From aircraft and geographic registries, not from the news sources. Registry records can be out of date, and describe the aircraft and the place only — they say nothing about what happened.

Terrain elevation
5,351 ft
Nearest aerodrome
2.6 miles NNE of Richfield Municipal Airport (KRIF/RIF)

Sources

Revision history

  1. Version 213 Aug 2026, 07:18current

    Attribution broadened to the five iHeart stations now carrying the account, and Governor Cox's quote given in full.

  2. Version 113 Aug 2026, 07:13

    First published.

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