- Two pilots died in a helicopter crash on August 7 while fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire in Utah's Fishlake National Forest.
- The crash of the Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter ignited a new fire that connected with the existing blaze, which has now scorched nearly 451 square kilometers.
- Fire activity initially prevented crews from reaching the crash site, but officials confirmed the deaths of the pilots on August 8.
- The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash once the wreckage can be examined.
- The Widemouth 2 Fire began on July 27 after lightning ignited dry vegetation in the Fishlake National Forest near Kanosh.
- As of August 8, the fire has burned more than 461 square kilometers and is 24% contained.
- Wildfires are devastating parts of North America and Europe, with thousands evacuated in British Columbia and major blazes in Spain.
- In British Columbia, a state of emergency was declared as the Bald Range wildfire forced over 20,000 people to evacuate.
- In Spain, more than 275 firefighters battled a challenging wildfire in the southern Andalusia region.
A wildfire in Utah has complicated rescue efforts following a helicopter crash that killed two pilots on August 7, 2026. The Sikorsky S-64 helicopter was supporting firefighting operations in the Fishlake National Forest when it went down, igniting a new fire that merged with an existing blaze.12
The fire has now scorched nearly 451 square kilometers (approximately 174 square miles) and is only 24% contained. Local officials reported that rugged terrain and active fire conditions initially prevented crews from reaching the crash site. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the incident once it is safe to do so, but it may take a year or more to determine the cause.34567810
In addition to the tragedy in Utah, wildfires are wreaking havoc across North America and Europe. In Canada, British Columbia declared a state of emergency as the Bald Range wildfire forced over 20,000 evacuations. The fire has expanded to about 9,500 hectares, with officials warning of rapidly changing conditions.12
Meanwhile, in Spain, over 275 firefighters are battling a significant wildfire in Andalusia, with flames active across an area of around 4,000 hectares. The situation remains dire, as scientists link the increasing frequency of such wildfires to human-driven climate change.13
“The crash ignited a new fire that merged with the existing Widemouth 2 Fire, which has scorched nearly 451 sq km and is 24% contained. In Canada, British Columbia declared a state of emergency as the Bald Range wildfire forced over 20,000 to evacuate.”
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