一架西科斯基直升机周五早上在犹他州菲什莱克国家森林坠毁[1]。坠机引发的新火灾与现有野火相连，合并燃烧面积近174平方英里[1]。机上有两人，国家航空运输安全委员会称两人在坠机中致命受伤[1]。
由于野火构成严重威胁，救援人员周六下午决定暂不派遣额外人员进入火灾区域[1]。紧急救援队因此无法安全抵达坠机现场进行确认工作。国家航空运输安全委员会表示将在火灾得到更好控制后展开调查[1]。
西部地区野火形势严峻。华盛顿州瑞尼尔山国家公园因新野火关闭了日出和白河地区[1]。斯波坎附近的一处较大火灾已燃烧超过15.63平方英里，消防员已建立超过75英里的防线[1]。
A Sikorsky helicopter crashed Friday morning in Utah's Fishlake National Forest, igniting a new fire that merged with existing blazes to create a burn area spanning nearly 174 square miles [1]. The collision between the newly sparked fire and ongoing wildfire activity has made the crash site inaccessible to emergency responders, preventing crews from reaching the aircraft to assess the condition of the two people aboard [1].
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that both occupants sustained fatal injuries in the crash [1]. On Saturday afternoon, authorities decided against dispatching additional personnel into the fire zone until conditions improved, prioritizing safety amid the dangerous fire conditions [1]. A full investigation by the NTSB will proceed once the fire is brought under control [1].
Wildfires have affected multiple locations across the western United States. The National Park Service closed portions of Washington's Mount Rainier National Park, including the Sunrise and White River areas, due to a separate new wildfire [1]. Near Spokane, a larger fire has consumed more than 15.63 square miles, with firefighters establishing over 75 miles of defensive perimeter [1].