RICHFIELD, Utah — Two pilots killed in a helicopter crash while battling a large wildfire in central Utah on Aug. 7 have been identified.
Chris Andersen, 64, of Stateline, Nevada, and Miles Elliott, 50, of Porterville, California, died when their Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helicopter crashed during firefighting operations on the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah, KSL reported.
Andersen was serving as the chief pilot, and Elliott was assisting on the mission when the helicopter crashed shortly after 10:30 a.m. in steep terrain near Three Creeks Reservoir, southwest of Richfield.
The crash ignited a vegetation fire, which, coupled with the steep terrain, complicated efforts to reach the wreckage. Search and rescue teams were able to reach the site on Aug. 8.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have launched an investigation into the crash.
Family and friends remembered Andersen and Elliott for lives marked by service and selflessness.
“Chris was a guy that ran to the problem, not from the problem, so I’m not surprised that he was in the middle of it,” Andersen’s brother, Ric, said.
Elliott traveled across the country fighting wildland fires, consistently prioritizing the safety of others, Porterville Mayor Greg Meister said.
“It was a life of service and selflessness, and ultimately, he gave his life while protecting others,” Meister said in a statement.
The Widemouth 2 Fire has burned more than 121,000 acres since it was sparked by lightning on July 27, making it Utah’s largest wildfire of the year. Nearly 800 personnel have been assigned to the fire.
