Pilots killed in Utah crash praised for their service as U.S. firefighter death toll rises

Two helicopter pilots who died fighting a Utah forest fire were remembered for their dedication in the face of enormous risks.

By: Annie Knox

Outlets: Utah News Dispatch

Published: August 11, 2026

Words: 767

Last Updated: 1 week, 1 day ago

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Two pilots who died in a helicopter crash while fighting a Utah forest fire were remembered Monday as skilled aviators dedicated to helping attack massive fires from the skies despite the enormous risk.

Miles Elliott, of Porterville in southern California, and Christopher Andersen, of Stateline, Nevada, perished after their twin-engine helicopter went down Friday near the Widemouth 2 Fire east of Fillmore. The crash ignited a separate fire in rugged terrain that delayed emergency …

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