RICHFIELD, Utah — Two pilots killed in a helicopter crash while battling a large wildfire in central Utah on Aug. 7have been identified by family and friends.
Chris Andersen, 64, of Stateline, Nevada, and Miles Elliott, 50, of Porterville, California, died when the helicopter they were flying crashed during firefighting operations, KSL reported. Family and friends remembered both men for lives marked by service and selflessness.
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The crash occurred as crews were fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
“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.
Andersen was the chief pilot, while Elliott was assisting in flying a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane when it crashed shortly after 10:30 a.m. The helicopter went down under unknown circumstances in steep terrain near Three Creeks Reservoir, southwest of Richfield, igniting a vegetation fire.
The fire eventually overtook the crash site, while steep and difficult terrain complicated efforts to reach the wreckage. Search and rescue teams were able to reach the site on Aug. 8.
Officials said the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are working with firefighters to access the crash site and begin investigating.
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 this week.
