Four service members aboard a U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter were involved in a crash near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state on Wednesday at approximately 9 p.m.
The helicopter was conducting a routine training mission when it went down. As of Thursday, the conditions of the service members have not been disclosed, and the cause of the crash is under investigation, according to Army officials.
Authorities reported that the crash triggered a small wildfire, which had expanded to 1 acre by Thursday morning. A search mission is currently underway, with Army spokesperson Ruth Castro confirming cooperation with law enforcement.
The Thurston County Sheriff's Office, based in Olympia, received reports of the helicopter crash in the Summit Lake area and dispatched deputies to the scene. They confirmed the military lost contact with the helicopter prior to the incident.
Sheriff Derek Sanders noted that while deputies located the crash site, they were unable to continue rescue efforts due to the fire. Emergency response efforts include the King County Guardian 1 helicopter and special operations rescue units.
State natural resource personnel are collaborating with multiple agencies, including the military and local fire districts, to manage the fire caused by the crash.