2 firefighters die in Utah helicopter crash

NewsA Sikorsky Skycrane maneuvers into position to refill during efforts to fight the Widemouth 2 Fire east of Fillmore, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, before it crashed on Friday, Aug. 7. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)(Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)Two firefighting helicopter pilots died Friday when their aircraft crashed while battling a wildfire near Richfield, Utah, officials confirmed Saturday.According to the U.S. Forest Service, a Sikorsky S-64 helicopter piloted by the two firefighters crashed a little after 10:30 a.m. Friday. The crash ignited a separate fire in nearby vegetation. The National Interagency Fire Center confirmed the two pilots’ deaths Saturday.The pair had been fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire in Millard County, which had already consumed 118,000 acres. According to Salt Lake City TV station KSL, the fire started July 27 after a lightning strike and spread quickly across dry terrain, driven by wind.KUTV identified one of the pilots as Miles Elliott of Porterville, California. The other pilot has not been identified. Porterville Mayor Greg Meister said Elliott was a model citizen of Porterville.“Miles represented the very best of Porterville. He was a devoted father, pilot, entrepreneur, photographer, mentor and an incredibly gifted person who used his talents to serve others and give back to the community he called home,” Meister said. “He served on the Porterville Airport Committee and the Porterville Little League Board, giving his time and talents back to the community he loved.”On Saturday, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox posted about the sacrifice the two pilots made.“They put themselves in harm’s way to protect our state and gave their lives in that service. Abby and I are heartbroken,” Cox said. “Our prayers are with their families and the entire wildland fire community. Utah will never forget their courage, their service and their sacrifice.”Chris Franklin is an NFL reporter for NJ Advance Media, covering anything and everything that has to do with the team. Chris joined the Eagles beat in 2020, spending the previous three years covering local news...