A heavy-lift helicopter carrying two people crashed Friday while fighting a wildfire in central Utah. At the same time, a separate blaze in Oregon claimed the life of a bulldozer operator.
_x000D_Officials had not reached the Utah crash site by Friday evening. They also had no immediate information about the condition of the two people aboard the helicopter.
_x000D_The Utah wildfire helicopter crash happened near Richfield, about 160 miles south of Salt Lake City. The Federal Aviation Administration said the Sikorsky S-64 was working alongside six other aircraft when it went down.
_x000D_The helicopter had been helping crews fight a lightning-caused fire that began on July 27. The crash sparked another fire in the area.
_x000D_ _x000D_Rescue teams face dangerous conditions
_x000D_Tyler Hecht of the Great Basin Incident Management Team said crews could not safely reach the crash site because of the surrounding flames.
_x000D_Officials hoped to reach the wreckage within 24 hours. Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis said rescuers did not want to put themselves at greater risk.
_x000D_Firefighters temporarily stopped aerial operations after the crash. They later resumed their work.
_x000D_The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA will investigate the accident. However, investigators may have to wait until conditions around the crash site become safer.
_x000D_Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helicopters often support firefighting operations. Crews can equip the aircraft with large tanks to drop water or fire retardant on wildfires.
_x000D_ _x000D_Oregon wildfire kills dozer operator
_x000D_The Utah crash came as firefighters in Oregon battled another dangerous wildfire.
_x000D_Jason Ensign, 47, died Thursday while operating a bulldozer for a timber company. The Wrights Spring Fire grew rapidly and cut off his escape route, according to the local sheriff’s department.
_x000D_The fire began Wednesday in south-central Oregon, east of Chiloquin. By Friday, it had burned nearly 14 square miles, or 36 square kilometers, with no containment.
_x000D_Extremely hot and dry conditions have made the fire difficult to control. Officials also warned crews about strong and unpredictable winds.
_x000D_ _x000D_Utah fire continues to grow
_x000D_The Utah wildfire has also expanded rapidly. The Fishlake National Forest fire near Kanosh had burned about 165 square miles, or 427 square kilometers, by Friday morning.
_x000D_Crews had contained about 19% of the fire. More than 600 firefighters were working to control the blaze.
_x000D_The fire has forced evacuations and destroyed at least six structures. Dry vegetation, months without significant rain, record-low snow levels and extreme heat have increased the risk across Utah and other parts of the western United States.
_x000D_Fire officials also warned crews about possible dry thunderstorms and lightning. Red flag warnings remained in effect.
_x000D_ _x000D_Wildfires continue to threaten firefighters
_x000D_The latest incidents highlight the dangers faced by crews during an increasingly active wildfire season.
_x000D_Four firefighters died and another suffered injuries in Colorado in June after a fast-moving wildfire overtook their position. The firefighters deployed emergency shelters as flames moved through the area.
_x000D_Officials continue to monitor weather conditions closely as firefighters battle large and unpredictable blazes across the West.