Overview
- A Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane contracted to the U.S. Forest Service crashed near Richfield while fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire at about 10 a.m. on Friday, and two people were aboard.
- Extreme fire behavior and steep terrain ignited new flames at the crash site and initially kept responders out, and crews later reached the wreckage and confirmed both occupants were fatally injured.
- The National Transportation Safety Board is leading a formal probe with the Federal Aviation Administration involved, and investigators will wait for safe access to the site before beginning on-scene work.
- The Widemouth 2 Fire, first struck by lightning on July 27, has burned well over 100,000 acres, is roughly in the high teens to mid-20s percent contained, and has over 600 personnel and seven helicopters assigned.
- Officials say the crash underscores the risks of heavy-lift aviation in steep, active fire zones and could prompt safety reviews of contracted air operations while firefighting continues and communities remain threatened.