Helicopter battling fierce Utah wildfires crashes with two on board

The helicopter was one of seven working on a fire in central Utah that was caused by lightning on July 27

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A helicopter assisting in tackling a major Utah wildfire came down on Friday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The aircraft was amongst seven deployed to combat a blaze in central Utah, which was sparked by lightning on July 27. By Friday, the fire had spread across 165 square miles and was 19% contained.

The FAA confirmed the helicopter went down in Richfield, roughly 160 miles south of Salt Lake City. The status of the two individuals aboard the aircraft remained unknown at the time.

Both the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA will launch investigations, though accessing the crash site may prove challenging if the wildfire continues burning in the vicinity, according to AP reports.

Teams fighting the flames on Friday contended with unpredictable winds, parched vegetation and scorching temperatures, alongside the threat of dry thunderstorms and lightning strikes. Red Flag warnings remained active, reports the Express.

This incident follows the deaths of four firefighters in Colorado who were overwhelmed by a rapidly spreading wildfire near the Utah border in June.

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