Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Helicopter Fighting Utah Wildfire Crashes Near Richfield; Crew Unaccounted For
A big fire started in a forest in Utah when lightning hit it.
Firefighters flew helicopters to help put the fire out.
One of those helicopters crashed, and nobody knows yet if the two people inside are okay.
The fire is very big — it has burned more than 165 square miles of land.
Strong, erratic winds are making it hard for firefighters to stop the flames.
In a separate story, the United States Senate voted to punish countries that keep buying oil and gas from Russia.
Russia is fighting a war in Ukraine, and senators want to make it harder for Russia to pay for that war.
The new measure could add very high tariffs on goods from India, China, and three other countries.
The bill is named after Senator Lindsey Graham, who wrote it before he died last month.
Next, the House of Representatives will consider the bill.
A helicopter helping fight a massive wildfire in Utah's Fishlake National Forest crashed near Richfield, about 160 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Federal officials have not confirmed the condition of the two crew members aboard, and local county authorities have not responded to questions.
The lightning-sparked fire, which began on 27 July, has burned 165 square miles and is only 19 per cent contained, with red flag warnings and erratic winds complicating efforts.
In a separate development, the US Senate voted 86-11 to pass a sanctions bill that could impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on India, China and three other countries over their purchases of Russian oil and gas.
The bill, renamed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 in honour of the late senator, now moves to the House of Representatives.
- Who
- Two helicopter crew members (condition unconfirmed), federal and local county officials, and the US Senate, which passed a sanctions bill
- What
- A helicopter assisting firefighting in Fishlake National Forest crashed near Richfield; the Senate also passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill
- When
- The fire was sparked by lightning on 27 July; the crash and Senate vote were reported in the latest world news live updates
- Where
- Near Richfield, about 160 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah, in Fishlake National Forest; the Senate vote took place in Washington
- Why
- The helicopter crashed while battling the wildfire amid erratic winds and red flag warnings; the sanctions aim to squeeze Russia's ability to finance its war in Ukraine
- Incident
- Firefighting helicopter crash in Utah
- Location
- Fishlake National Forest near Richfield, ~160 miles south of Salt Lake City
- Crew aboard
- 2 people; condition not confirmed
- Fire size
- 165 square miles burned
- Containment
- 19 per cent
- Fire cause
- Lightning strike on 27 July
- Senate vote
- 86-11 in favour of Russia sanctions bill
- Next step
- Bill moves to the House of Representatives