Tag: Utah

Two pilots confirmed dead after helicopter crash at Utah’s Widemouth 2 Fire

The bodies of the two pilots killed in a helicopter crash helping fight the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah have been recovered and returned to their families, according to officials.

Fishlake National Forest officials confirmed the fatalities six hours after reporting crews couldn’t reach the scene of the crash due to a recently ignited fire. They said the Sevier County Sheriff and interagency partners of the Great Basin Geographic Area confirmed the pilots’ deaths after the scene of the crash was deemed safe.

“The victims were pilots with Helicopter Transport Services (HTS), a Forest Service Exclusive Use contract aircraft company,” officials said in a press release on Saturday evening. “The families of the pilots have been notified, and the interagency partners are coordinating closely with the company and families through this difficult time.”

Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the incident.

The wildfire has burned 118,796 acres, destroyed six structures, and is at 27% containment as of Sunday morning, according to the latest release from National Forest personnel. Thunderstorms and lightning rolled over the fire on Saturday, but moisture eluded the area. Erratic winds, dry fuels and hot temperatures continue to fuel the fire’s growth.

“We stand strong in our support of the Fishlake National Forest, HTS, those supporting the Widemouth 2 Fire, and the communities affected directly by this loss,” officials said. “Fatalities such as this land heavily on the minds and hearts of our agencies and the wildland fire community as a whole.”

Search for crashed helicopter crew continues as Widemouth 2 Fire crosses 110,000 acres burned

Over 24 hours later, rescue teams are unable to access the site where a firefighting helicopter crashed responding to a wildfire in Utah, according to officials at the Fishlake National Forest.

Ground crews attempted to respond to the area near the ongoing Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah on Friday, but were unable to access the scene due to an emergent fire caused by vegetation ignited by the crash, U.S. Forest Service officials said in a press release on Saturday afternoon. The responding Incident Management Team decided not to put further lives at risk until the area was deemed safe.

“The site is now inside the fire perimeter itself, with the growth that occurred yesterday on the fire,” officials said in the press release. “Due to the continued large fire growth and unsafe conditions, emergency responders are still unable to access the scene or victims as of this morning.”

There is no confirmation on the health status of the helicopter’s crew, and officials warned against starting or engaging with numerous false reports and rumors that have since spread online, according to the press release. They said any confirmation of the crew’s health status will come directly from the Sevier County Sheriff after Search and Rescue teams can safely access the scene.

“This is an evolving situation, and emergency personnel are on scene where safe to do so,” officials said. “Agency and fire personnel’s top priority is responding to the incident safely.”

The Widemouth 2 Fire has burned 111,306 acres and is 24% contained as of Saturday afternoon, according to the latest update from fire managers. Containment has increased over the past 24 hours, but continual erratic winds, dry fuels and hot temperatures threaten to further the fire’s spread.

“Rainfall is expected early next week, but it is too early for meteorologists to predict how much rainfall will occur and where,” fire crews said.

Click here for the latest evacuation information.

Helicopter crashes while fighting +100K-acre Utah wildfire

A firefighting helicopter responding to the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah has crashed, U.S. Forest Service officials confirmed on Friday.

The crash happened in the Fishlake National Forest and emergency personnel were responding to the scene as of 3 p.m. Mountain Time, according to a press release sent out by Forest Service personnel on Friday. Officials said responding to the incident is their top priority.

“Local, state, and federal authorities are assisting in the response,” officials said. “Information will be released as soon as it is available. Please be patient as the response to this incident continues to occur and safety actions are prioritized first.”

The fire, which has burned over 106,000 acres as of Friday morning, was caused by lightning on July 27 and is 19% contained. Erratic winds, dry fuels and hot temperatures have worsened fire spread, but upcoming monsoonal moisture offers hope of lessened fire danger.

“Direct suppression tactics are not feasible, nor safe, in many areas due to terrain, slope alignment, erratic winds, dry fuels and extreme fire behavior,” Fishlake National Forest officials said. “It is too early for meteorologists to predict how much rainfall will occur and where.”

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz recently visited areas impacted by the Widemouth 2 Fire to sign a formal funding commitment to post-fire flooding mitigation.

This is a developing situation. This article will be updated with the latest information as it is released.

Firefighters killed near Colorado-Utah border were waiting for helicopter pickup when burnover overtook them, latest investigation details show

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service on Thursday released preliminary investigation details into the agency’s first fatal incident.

The Knowles Fire, which later merged into the larger Snyder Mesa Fire, caused the deaths of four wildland firefighters on June 27. Emily Barker of Michigan, Nick Hutcherson of Arizona, and Sydney Watson of Alabama died at the scene, while Nathan Matthews of Nebraska died a month later from severe burns. A fifth wildland firefighter was also hospitalized for burns, but officials have not yet released their identity or health status.

The firefighters were waiting for a helicopter pickup when a burnover overtook them, according to the details released by agency officials on Thursday. A new ignition was detected at 12:32 p.m., around three hours after the firefighters arrived on the scene and rapidly began exhibiting extreme fire behavior. Crews originally believed it was a spot fire, but satellite imagery reportedly confirmed it was a lightning ignition.

Strong winds pushed that ignition to merge with the Snyder Fire and kept smoke at ground level, reducing visibility, officials’ report said. A helicopter arrived to pick up the firefighters at around 3:13 p.m., but reported it was unable to land due to the smoke six minutes later. Officials say that’s when the firefighters deployed their fire shelters.

“The (Serious Accident Investigation Team) continues to examine all aspects of the incident,” officials said in the report. “This synopsis provides only verified preliminary facts and does not represent final findings or conclusions. Further details will be shared as appropriate once the full report is complete.”

Click here to read the full report.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fourth wildland firefighter dies from Knowles Fire entrapment near Colorado-Utah border

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Identities of firefighters killed by burnover near Colorado-Utah border released

The names of the three wildland firefighters killed during a burnover event near the Colorado-Utah border on Saturday were released by the Department of the Interior on Monday.

The firefighters were identified as:

Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack.
Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona, assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest.
Sydney Watson, 27, of Warrior, Alabama, assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack.

Officials did not release the identities of the two firefighters hospitalized with burns. The agencies have mobilized a serious accident investigation team to review the circumstances leading up to the incident, officials said.

The Knowles and Gore fires, which the Rifle Helitack crew was originally assigned to, were overtaken by the Snyder Mesa Fire after it merged with the Jones Fire, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service said in a press release on Monday. An interagency complex incident management team has since assumed command.

“We mourn the loss of three firefighters who answered the call to protect others and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their fellow citizens,” U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy said in the release. “Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones, friends and crewmates as they face an unimaginable loss. These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Burnover kills 3 firefighters and injures 2 near Colorado-Utah border, Wildland Fire Service’s first fatalities

Our sincere condolences go out to the families, friends, and co-workers of the victims and the injured.

RELATED COVERAGE: Wildfire aircraft crash in Canada: 3 dead

Colorado Featured Article United States Utah

Burnover kills 3 firefighters and injures 2 near Colorado-Utah border, Wildland Fire Service’s first fatalities

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service announced the deaths of three firefighters early Sunday morning after a burnover event near the Colorado-Utah border.

Service officials said crews were responding to wildfires in western Colorado on Saturday when firefighters became trapped and flames overtook them. Two firefighters survived and are being treated for burns, while three others succumbed to their injuries. The identities of those killed and injured are being withheld until family members are notified.

The deaths are the Service’s first fatalities since the Department of the Interior consolidated all of its wildland firefighting forces into a single agency. The Service did not release details of the operational events leading up to the burnover, with officials saying additional information would be released later.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: US Wildland Fire Service partially funded from significant EPA cuts

“The U.S. Wildland Fire Service and the U.S. Forest Service are focused on supporting the firefighters’ family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time,” officials said in the press release.

The firefighters were assigned to the Knowles and Gore fires, which have since combined with the nearby Jones and Snyder fires into what local officials are calling the Snyder Mesa Fire. The combined fires have burned nearly 29,000 acres as of Sunday morning and have triggered an emergency declaration from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, which activated the state’s Emergency Operations Plan and authorizes the support of the Colorado National Guard.

“This support includes State and interagency engines and handcrews, DFPC and interagency aviation resources, and incident management personnel and overhead to assist in management of the fire and containment efforts,” Polis said. “In addition, DFPC is supporting Mesa County and the incident with administrative and financial oversight and intelligence products that include imaging, mapping, and fire behavior modeling and projects.”

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and the American Red Cross established an evacuation resource center in the former Faith Heights Church located at 600 28 ¼ Road in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Colorado Featured Article United States Utah

Utah declares State of Emergency over worsening wildfire outbreaks

Utah Governor Spencer Cox declared a 30-day State of Emergency on Thursday due to worsening wildfire outbreaks across the state, a press release from the governor’s office said.

The state has seen just under 700 wildfires as of Thursday, according to the state government’s online wildfire dashboard. The fires have burned 127,135 acres, more burned land than wildfires caused in the state during 2024 and 2023 combined.

The state of emergency order allows officials to use all available state resources to protect lives, homes, livestock and drinking water supplies from the fires throughout the state.

“Heroic efforts are underway as firefighters and emergency personnel work around the clock to save homes and neighborhoods,” Cox said in the press release. “We are mobilizing every tool at our disposal to support them and keep Utahns safe.”

Stage 2 fire restrictions were enacted for most of the state after the executive order was issued. The restrictions outlaw any open fires, outdoor smoking, fireworks, welding, and internal combustion engine use without approved spark arrestors.

The state’s four largest active fires have burned more than 100,000 acres, the governor’s office said. Suppression costs for the fires have surpassed $103 million across local, state and federal agencies.

The Monroe Canyon Fire, the state’s largest wildfire this year, has burned 55,642 acres since it started on July 13 and has destroyed at least seven structures. The fire is 7% contained as of Friday morning and has 1,217 personnel working it. The fire caused evacuations for multiple residents throughout the area, which have since been lifted, according to the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency. Cox traveled to the fire on Friday to receive an on-site briefing and meet with local leaders and fire teams.

“We’ve increased our resources for night operations, so we will continue fireline personnel throughout the night on this fire all the way around,” Operations Section Chief Issac Powning said during Friday’s operational update.

Utah

Utah wins Bronze Smokey for prevention

Utah burned much more than usual in 2020 and, more than ever before, humans were to blame. The state had its worst year of human-caused wildfires on record that year, when 1,500 wildfires burned more than 100,000 acres of land across the state. Officials say 1,143 of those fires were caused by humans, beating the state’s previous single-year record by more than 250.

Utah launched a statewide campaign called “Fire Sense” to reduce human-caused wildfires, and it was incredibly effective. The state marked a 60 percent reduction in human-caused wildfires in the two years following the start of the program. In 2023 that number has gone down even more, with only 295 of Utah’s 772 wildfires recorded as human-caused as of October 6.

The program was recently awarded a Bronze Smokey, which is a national award for statewide service, for its by-the-numbers success.

“This is a great honor for Fire Sense,” said Kayli Guild, the Fire Prevention and Communications Coordinator for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands (FFSL), after receiving the Bronze Smokey. “We launched this campaign to raise awareness surrounding the impact our behaviors as humans have on wildfire starts. Over the past two years, we have seen a drastic decrease in human-caused starts as we have seen Utahns implement Fire Sense.”

Fire Sense is basically a PSA package geared toward educating Utah’s residents about how they can help avoid starting wildfires throughout the state. All of the usual bases are covered, including telling people to put out their campfires, not drag chains, and not fire guns on hot and windy days. The execution of the project, however, seems to be what made it so effective.

“This strategy worked because Fire Sense is common sense!” according to FFSL . More details on the Fire Sense program are available from the utahfiresense.org website.

Smokey Award Levels:

Gold: This is the highest honor given to organizations or individuals for outstanding wildfire prevention service that is national in scope over at least a two-year period. A maximum of three Gold Smokey Bear awards may be given annually.

Silver: This is the highest honor given to organizations or individuals for outstanding wildfire prevention service that is regional (multistate) in scope over at least a two-year period. A maximum of five Silver Smokey Bear awards may be given annually.

Bronze: This is the highest honor given to organizations or individuals for outstanding wildfire prevention service that has impact within a state over at least a two-year period. A maximum of 10 Bronze Smokey Bear awards may be given annually.

Bronze Smokey Fire Sense prevention Utah

Jacob City and Halfway Hill fires burn thousands of acres in Utah

11:04 a.m. MDT July 11, 2022

Halfway Hill Fire 3-D map 10:34 p.m. July 10, 2022 — Halfway Hill Fire 3-D map looking south at 10:34 p.m. July 10, 2022.

Two wildfires in Utah are burning in steep, rugged terrain.

The Halfway Hill Fire is in the Fishlake National Forest two miles southeast of Fillmore east of Interstate 15. The activity on the fire Sunday was more moderate than the previous two days as the wind speeds lessened. It was mapped Sunday night at 10,417 acres. Most of the heat detected by the sensors on the aircraft was on the eastern side.

Halfway Hill Fire, July 10, 2022. Utah Fire Info.

Residents of the Virginia Hills subdivision are still under an evacuation notice.

Map of the Halfway Hill Fire 10:34 p.m. July 10, 2022 — Map of the Halfway Hill Fire. The red line was the perimeter at 10:34 p.m. July 10, 2022. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours before.

The Jacob City Fire has burned 4,094 acres 2 miles east of Stockton. When it was mapped at 10 p.m. Sunday it was very active on the northwest and southeast sides. As of Sunday evening no communities are imminently threatened, according to Utah Fire Info.