Utah wildfire blocks access after S-64 crash

Emergency crews in central Utah were still unable to reach the site of a firefighting helicopter crash as of Saturday, one day after the aircraft went down while supporting the Widemouth 2 fire, federal officials said.

Officials identified the aircraft as a Sikorsky S-64 helicopter operating under a contract with the U.S. Forest Service. They said the crash occurred inside the active fire perimeter, and that severe fire behavior and local conditions prevented safe access for ground teams.

Widemouth 2 fire conditions continue to limit response

As of Saturday, officials said the Widemouth 2 fire had burned more than 114,600 acres and was 24 percent contained. State data referenced in official briefings put the fire at more than 105,000 acres early Friday, before it expanded.

Ground resources attempted to respond immediately after the crash, officials said, but incident managers decided personnel would not be sent in without a safety zone. Authorities said hazards in the area have kept recovery operations from moving forward.

Secondary blaze adds hazards near crash location

State authorities said at a Friday evening news conference that the crash also started a secondary fire. Officials said that additional ignition has added to risks for crews and further complicated efforts to secure the area.

The U.S. Forest SerSources said recovery work is expected to remain paused until fire intensity drops enough for responders to establish a safety zone and reach the crash site.

NTSB team staged in Richfield awaiting safer conditions

Officials said National Transportation Safety Board investigators were staged in Richfield, Utah, waiting for conditions that allow them to access the location. They are expected to document the scene and retrieve the aircraft once entry is possible, officials said.

Richfield is about 160 miles south of Salt Lake City, according to officials.

Fatalities confirmed; status of others not yet verified In a Saturday daily report, the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center said the pilot and one crewmember were fatally injured. The U.S. Forest SerSources said it had not confirmed the status of two passengers and urged the public not to speculate while responders remain unable to secure the site.

Officials said the Widemouth 2 fire started with a lightning strike in late July. For now, officials said the same fire activity that has challenged containment is also preventing investigators and recovery teams from reaching the crash area.