A procession was scheduled for Friday afternoon to honor a Porterville pilot killed in a helicopter crash while battling a wildfire in Utah, according to a August 14 report.
Officials stated that on Friday, August 7, 2026, a Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter crashed during firefighting operations on the Widemouth 2 Fire in Utah.
The pilot killed in the crash was identified as 50-year-old Miles Elliott, a native of Porterville. The other pilot involved in the crash was identified as 64-year-old Chris Andersen.
Elliott and Andersen were employees of Helicopter Transport Services. The Sikorsky Skycrane aircraft was operating under an exclusive-use contract with the U.S. Forest Service.
The City of Porterville released a statement describing Elliott as a devoted father, pilot, entrepreneur, photographer, mentor, and firefighter who served the community.
Elliott served as an Extra-Help Firefighter for the Tulare County Fire Department for nearly 15 years. He also served on the Porterville Airport Committee and the Porterville Little League Board.
On Friday, August 14, 2026, Elliott was scheduled to be transferred from Utah to the Porterville Airport. His arrival at the airport was expected at 1 p.m., followed by a procession of fire engines and law enforcement vehicles to Myers Funeral Home in Porterville.
Regarding the Widemouth 2 Fire, the U.S. Forest Service of Fishlake National Forest reported that as of August 14, the fire had burned 129,574 acres and was 65% contained. Utah Fire Info reported the fire had grown to an estimated 84,229 acres with 0% containment, with approximately 420 personnel assigned to the wildfire.
