A heavy-lift helicopter assisting in the fight against a wildfire in central Utah crashed on Friday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The conditions of the two people aboard the aircraft were not immediately known.
The Sikorsky S64 helicopter went down in Richfield, Utah. The Sevier County Sheriff's Office has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the crash. Officials from the FAA and wildfire management agencies stated they had no information on the status of the two individuals on board.
The wildfire, which began from a lightning strike on July 27, had grown to 165 square miles (427 square kilometers) by Friday and was 19% contained. The crashed helicopter was one of seven actively engaged in combating the blaze.
Fire crews were alerted Friday morning to anticipate erratic winds, dry fuel conditions, and high temperatures, with the possibility of dry thunderstorms and lightning. Red Flag warnings were in effect for the area.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are expected to investigate the crash. However, access to the crash site may be delayed if wildfire activity continues in the vicinity.