United States Fire Administration
20 August 2026
EMMITSBURG, Md. — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the on-duty deaths of Pilot Christopher Andersen, 64, and Pilot Miles Elliott, 50, under contract with the U.S. Forest Service on 7 August 2026.
On the morning of August 7, 2026, Andersen and Elliott were piloting a helicopter engaged in water dropping near the Widemouth 2 Fire (approximately 12 miles south of Kanosh, Utah). Contact was lost with the helicopter at 10:41 a.m. A search later confirmed that the helicopter had crashed after wreckage was found. Both pilots did not survive the crash.
Age: 64
Rank: Pilot
Classification: Wildland Contract
Incident date: Aug. 7, 2026 10:41 AM
Date of death: Aug. 7, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Vehicle Collision – Includes Aircraft
Nature of fatal injury: Trauma
Activity type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property
Age: 50
Rank: Pilot
Classification: Wildland Contract
Incident date: Aug. 7, 2026 10:41 AM
Date of death: Aug. 7, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Vehicle Collision – Includes Aircraft
Nature of fatal injury: Trauma
Activity type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property
The number of on-duty deaths for 2026 is currently 53.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2026.
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
For more information about on-duty deaths as recorded by the United States Fire Administration go to “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.”
Chris Andersen (left) and Miles Elliott (right). Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service – Cleveland National Forest/Facebook.
Data Not Drama 