Dangerous wildfire keeps crews from reaching helicopter crash in Utah

A large Utah wildfire kept emergency responders from safely reaching the remote site of a helicopter crash Saturday as other fires burned across several Western states, including one that closed part of Mount Rainier National Park.

The Friday morning crash of a Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter in the Fishlake National Forest ignited a new fire that spread to connect with the existing blaze that has now scorched nearly 174 square miles (nearly 451 square kilometers).

Officials battling the fire said they decided not to place additional lives at risk until the fire is more under control, so they have not been able to confirm the status of the two people aboard the helicopter. The National Interagency Fire Center said the pilot and crew member were fatally injured in the crash, but they didn't respond immediately to questions about the source of that information.

“The site is now inside the fire perimeter itself,” the fire incident management team said Saturday afternoon.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the helicopter crash once their team can examine the wreckage. Officials urged the public not to speculate or spread rumors about the cause at this early stage. It will likely take the NTSB a year or more to determine that.

In Washington state, the National Park Service closed down access to the Sunrise and White River areas of Mount Rainier National Park after a new wildfire burned less than a third of a square mile (less than a square kilometer). Firefighters were working to gain control of that fire on Saturday.

The larger fires near Spokane have now burned more than 15.63 square miles (over 40 square kilometers), but firefighters constructed more than 75 miles (over 120 kilometers) of containment line to help control those flames.

Meanwhile in Oregon, hot and dry conditions helped an uncontrolled fire spread beyond 30 square miles (77.7 square kilometers).

Firefighters were still trying to identify the best places to set up containment lines around the Wrights Spring fire as they mourned the death of 47-year-old Jason Ensign, who was killed while operating a bulldozer for a timber company. The blaze grew rapidly Thursday and cut off Ensign’s escape route.

And north of the border in British Columbia, more than 20,000 people had to evacuate ahead of another fast-moving wildfire.

A Sikorsky Skycrane approaches to refill during efforts to fight the Widemouth 2 Fire east of Fillmore, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, before it crashed on Friday, Aug. 7. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)

A Sikorsky Skycrane rises after refilling during efforts to fight the Widemouth 2 Fire east of Fillmore, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, before it crashed on Friday, Aug. 7. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)

A Sikorsky Skycrane maneuvers into position to refill during efforts to fight the Widemouth 2 Fire east of Fillmore, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, before it crashed on Friday, Aug. 7. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Forest Service on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, shows the Widemouth 2 wildfire burning near Richfield, Utah. (U.S. Forest Service/Fishlake National Forest via AP)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — South Africa scraped past Argentina 17-10 in test rugby at the possible expense of inspirational captain Siya Kolisi on Saturday.

Kolisi trudged off in the 25th minute of his first match in seven weeks after damaging his hamstring. He may be a doubt to lead the Springboks back home against New Zealand in two weeks in the opening test of the blockbuster Greatest Rivalry series.

“I hurt my hamstring again unfortunately,” he said. “It's tough but I can't be sad about it. There's nothing I can do but go in for a scan and see how long I'm out for.”

The skipper was among a core group of Springbok stalwarts given match time in Buenos Aires after missing the Nations Championship in July because of injuries. Caps record-holder Eben Etzebeth and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu played every minute and lock Lood de Jager, coming back from a hip injury, endured into the third quarter.

They got to celebrate a 12th straight test win, but only just.

The depleted Pumas almost snatched a draw after the fulltime hooter. From a tap penalty in front of the Springbok posts, they pounded the visitors for 15 phases until the final high pass to an unmarked Matías Moroni was dropped. Coach Felipe Contepomi thumped his booth and Moroni was in tears.

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus expected the grind. For the tune-up for the All Blacks he made 13 changes from the side which beat Wales 43-0. He picked players recovered from injuries, guys who had limited time during the Nations Championship, or players on the fringe of the squad.

They prevailed against a surprisingly tough Pumas outfit who, because the game was outside the international window, couldn't summon Europe-based stars such as captain Julián Montoya, Marcos Kremer, Joaquín Oviedo and Justo Piccardo. They debuted four forwards.

The difference came in the second half when the Springboks reserves made their superior experience count and scored the winning try from a scrum.

Santiago Carreras, from 45 meters, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu traded early penalty kicks. Then from lineout ball, prop Boris Wenger stood in a gang tackle and offloaded for flanker Benjamín Grondona to burst clear to the tryline.

As good as the Pumas were, they spent the remaining half-hour to halftime in their own territory. They were solid in the set-piece and kicked cleverly, winning the aerial contestables but lacking a decisive last pass.

The Boks were also diligent but crashing into a good Pumas defense. After a long sustained attack, Springbok frustration was manifested by Feinberg-Mngomezulu resorting to a drop goal attempt that hit the crossbar.

The Springboks didn't really threaten the tryline until the brink of halftime when a couple of offloads by the centers and fullback Aphelele Fassi joining the line allowed right winger Edwill van der Merwe to skirt the defense and score.

Erasmus emptied his bench in the third quarter and the fresh power showed in the increasingly one-sided scrums. The pressure finally told when Canan Moodie trapped Pumas fullback Gerónimo Prisciantelli and forced a five-meter scrum.

The Springboks popped the tighthead side, splintered the Pumas scrum and No. 8 Cameron Hanekom cruised over the tryline in the 63rd minute. Then the defense just held on.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

South Africa Ethan Hooker is tackled by Argentina's Santiago Carreras during a rugby test match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

South Africa Edwill van der Merwe is tackled by Argentina's Agustin Moyano during a rugby test match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Ignacio Mendy runs with the ball during a rugby test match against South Africa in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

South Africa Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, center, is tackled by Argentina's Geronimo Prisciantelli during a rugby test match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

South Africa Andre Esterhuizen, center, is tackled by Argentina's Faustino Sanchez Valarolo (12) and Agustin Moyano during a rugby test match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)