RICHFIELD, UTAH — A Sikorsky S-64 heavy-lift helicopter crashed while battling a wildfire in Richfield, Utah, on Friday morning. The aircraft went down near the community at about 10 a.m. local time on August 7, 2026.

There were two people aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash. The conditions of the two people aboard the helicopter are unknown.

The helicopter was one of seven aircraft working the wildfire when the accident occurred. More than 600 firefighting personnel are battling the blaze across the affected region.

The fire is burning on the Fishlake National Forest near the community of Kanosh, Utah. The wildfire had grown to 165 square miles (427 square kilometers) and was 19 percent contained by Friday morning.

Fire crews were warned Friday morning of erratic winds, dry fuels, hot temperatures, and the potential for dry thunderstorms and lightning. Red Flag warnings were in effect as conditions deteriorated.

The wildfire has triggered evacuations in the area. The wildfire has destroyed at least six structures since it began.

The wildfire was caused by lightning on July 27. The incident occurred during a period of extreme heat in the region.

The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Warning for South Central Utah and the Capitol Reef National Park vicinity. The warning was issued on August 7 at 2:30 PM MDT and remains in effect until August 8 at 9:00 PM MDT, according to the NWS Salt Lake City office.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board responded to the crash, according to reports from KUTV. These agencies confirmed that two people were on board the aircraft.

Investigators may not be able to safely reach the crash scene immediately due to the nearby wildfire. Access to the site remains restricted by active fire behavior and safety concerns.

The crash shows the risks faced by aerial firefighting crews operating in extreme weather conditions. The Sikorsky S-64 is part of a helicopter family dating back to 1959, designed for heavy-lift operations.

FEMA has issued 50 federal disaster declarations for fire incidents in Utah since the programme began. This event adds to the historical record of fire-related emergencies in the state requiring federal attention.

Why It Matters

The crash shows the dangers aerial crews face when operating heavy-lift helicopters during Red Flag warnings with erratic winds and dry fuels. With investigators potentially unable to reach the site immediately due to active fire behavior, the response to this incident involving two people aboard faces significant delays. This event occurs while more than 600 personnel battle a blaze that has already destroyed structures and triggered evacuations across the Fishlake National Forest.