A firefighting plane crashed into Hauser Reservoir in Montana while collecting water to combat a nearby fire, leading to evacuation orders in the area. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, as reported by Lewis and Clark County officials.

Witnesses observed the single-engine aircraft, an Air Tractor AT-802 working for the Forest Service, experiencing difficulties while filling up water from the reservoir. Emergency responders, including law enforcement, search and rescue teams, and divers from Gallatin County, swiftly arrived at the scene. The pilot’s condition has not been disclosed by Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton.

The Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the U.S. Forest Service are all conducting investigations into the crash. The plane was aiding in battling the Horse Ridge Fire, a human-caused blaze spanning 450 acres in dense timber in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, located approximately 5 miles south of York. Evacuation orders were issued by the sheriff’s office on Wednesday.

High temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the area have persisted for days, with forecasts predicting a climb to 100 degrees on the day of the incident.