A tragic incident unfolded on Friday in central Utah when a firefighting helicopter operated by Helicopter Transport Services under contract with the United States Forest Service crashed, resulting in the death of two crew members. The Sikorsky S-64 ‘Skycrane’ went down near Richfield in the Three Creeks Reservoir area, southwest of the city, close to the southeastern edge of the Widemouth 2 fire. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) confirmed the deaths more than 24 hours after the crash due to extreme fire conditions and steep terrain that hindered rescue efforts. Recovery of the bodies occurred on Saturday, but the identities of the deceased have not been disclosed. The NIFC has issued evacuations for local residents and imposed road closures. Crews temporarily halted their firefighting work following the crash to regroup before resuming. Utah Governor Spencer Cox expressed condolences and highlighted the danger inherent in wildland firefighting, urging prayers for the crew. A procession was organized by the Utah Highway Patrol on Saturday evening to escort the remains of the fallen heroes. The Widemouth 2 fire, ignited by a lightning strike in Fishlake National Forest on July 27, has since spread over more than 111,000 acres (45,000 hectares), putting it on track to become Utah's largest wildfire this year. Containment stands at 24 percent as extreme fire behaviour continues to threaten nearby communities. This marks the second fatal wildfire incident in Utah this summer, following three firefighter deaths while battling the Knowles and Gore fires near the Colorado border in June, with a fourth firefighter later succumbing to injuries sustained in the incident.