Hero Pilot Lost in Wildfire Battle | Salt Lake City News

Salt Lake City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 12, 2026 · 1m

A legendary pilot with four decades of service, Chris Andersen—just months from retirement and known for charging headfirst into danger—perished when his firefighting helicopter crashed during the Widemouth 2 Fire. A hero to colleagues and family, he’d risked everything to save others, even in his own backyard of Lake Tahoe. His brother Ric honored him as a man who lived by courage, while the aviation world mourns the loss of a skilled, dependable force whose legacy in wildfire combat will endure. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise…