Utah Flags Lowered to Honor Fallen Firefighters, Congressional Resolution Filed
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has ordered state flags to be flown at half-mast to honor two fallen firefighters, Chris Andersen and Miles Elliott, who died in a helicopter crash while battling the Widemouth 2 Fire in central Utah. U.S. Senators…
Salt Lake City, UT, August 11, 2026 —
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has directed that state flags be flown at half-mast to commemorate the lives of two firefighters, Chris Andersen and Miles Elliott. The two firefighters died in a helicopter crash while actively engaged in battling the Widemouth 2 Fire, located in central Utah.
The incident has prompted action at the federal level as well. U.S. Senators John Curtis and Mike Lee, representing Utah, have joined Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper in introducing a bipartisan resolution. This resolution aims to formally recognize the sacrifices made by individuals working on the front lines of wildfire suppression efforts across the nation.
The scope of the proposed resolution has been specifically broadened to encompass the recent and tragic loss of firefighters Chris Andersen and Miles Elliott in Utah, acknowledging their dedication and ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Story summarized from the original created by Emily Walker on www.deseret.com, see more information here.
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