A fighter jet has crashed in an area near Rimrock Lake, in the Yakima region of Washington state, in what officials described as a developing situation. The report came from the Naches Fire Department, which was among the agencies responding to the scene as details continued to emerge.
There was at least some reassuring news from the wreckage. Rescuers said the pilot safely ejected from the aircraft before it went down, avoiding what could have been a far more serious outcome given the nature of the crash.
The impact, however, brought a second hazard. The crash sparked a wildfire in the surrounding area, turning a single aircraft accident into a broader emergency for crews working in the rugged terrain near the lake.
Firefighting resources were quickly brought in to respond. The U.S. Forest Service dispatched a helicopter to try to get the fire under control, joining the effort to keep the flames from spreading across the forested landscape.
With the fire growing, attention also turned to people in the area. Evacuations of nearby campsites were underway, carried out with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies as authorities worked to move people away from the danger.
Many questions remained unanswered as the response continued. Officials said they were still working to learn what type of fighter jet had crashed, as well as the condition of the pilot who ejected, with more information expected as the investigation got underway.