Governor Lombardo Orders Flags to Half-Staff to Honor Fallen Wildland Firefighting Pilot Christopher V. Andersen

CARSON CITY, NV — Flags across the Nevada State Capitol and all state public buildings and grounds were ordered to fly at half-staff in honor of Christopher V. Andersen, a veteran Lake Tahoe-area helitack pilot who lost his life in the line of duty during aerial wildfire suppression operations.

Governor Joe Lombardo issued the statewide directive following a formal request from the Andersen family. Andersen, 64, of Stateline, Nevada, died on August 7 alongside co-pilot Miles Elliott, 50, of Porterville, California, when their Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helicopter crashed in rugged terrain near Three Creeks Reservoir in Utah’s Fishlake National Forest while battling the massive Widemouth 2 Fire.

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|          STATE MEMORIAL PROCLAMATION DOSSIER           |
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|  - Honoree: Christopher V. Andersen (Age 64)           |
|  - Residence: Stateline, NV (Lake Tahoe Basin)         |
|  - Official Action: Nevada Flags Lowered to Half-Staff |
|  - Proclaiming Authority: Governor Joe Lombardo        |
|  - Scope: NV State Capitol & All Public State Grounds  |
|  - Incident: Widemouth 2 Fire (Fishlake Nat'l Forest)  |
|  - Aircraft: Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane (Heavy-Lift Helo)  |
|  - Contractor: Helicopter Transport Services / USFS    |
|  - Career: 40+ Years of Aviation & Military Service    |
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Four Decades of Aviation and Military Service

Andersen completed an aviation career spanning more than 40 years. He began his flying career as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army before transitioning into civilian heavy-lift operations, flying aerial firefighting, disaster response, and specialized utility missions across six continents.

Operating under contract with the U.S. Forest Service through Helicopter Transport Services, Andersen served as a chief pilot and mentor, earning widespread acclaim within the international wildland aviation community for his precision piloting in high-density altitudes and complex mountain terrain.

“Christopher V. Andersen dedicated more than four decades of his life to aviation and public service, first as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army and later flying critical missions and protecting communities across the country and around the world,” stated Governor Joe Lombardo. “Mr. Andersen made his home near Lake Tahoe, where he served as a chief pilot and mentor and earned the respect of fellow aviators for his skill, leadership, and professionalism. His courage, service, and dedication to protecting others will not be forgotten by the people of the State of Nevada.”

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|             HONORING A LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE          |
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|  • Military Service: U.S. Army Helicopter Aviator      |
|  • Wildland Fire Aviation: Chief Skycrane Pilot        |
|  • Operational Footprint: Missions on Six Continents   |
|  • Community Anchor: Longtime Stateline / Tahoe Native |
|  • Last Mission: Fishlake National Forest, Utah        |
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Regional Honors and Multi-State Tributes

Andersen’s sacrifice has been honored across the Intermountain West. Utah Governor Spencer Cox previously ordered state flags lowered across Utah state facilities, and wildland firefighting agencies held a ceremonial first responder motorcade in central Utah over the weekend.

In Northern Nevada, the state flag tribute coincided with interagency wildland crews advancing containment on regional blazes, including the 94,000-acre Bug Fire in Washoe County.

Source: Office of Governor Joe Lombardo Proclamations, Nevada Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service Interagency Fire Center, KSL Utah Regional Bureau.