Military aircraft crash in Washington ignites wildfire, road closures

A military aircraft went down near Rimrock Lake in Washington on June 13, triggering a wildfire and prompting a response from local and federal firefighting teams, as reported by foreign media.

The pilot managed to eject safely before the crash and was later taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, the Naches Fire Department confirmed.

The aircraft was identified as an F/A-18 Hornet assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, according to the US Marine Corps Station Miramar.

In a statement, the Marine Corps said, "The cause of the mishap is currently under investigation. To preserve the integrity of the investigation, no additional details are available at this time. Mishap investigations can take several months to complete, depending on various factors."

The fire sparked by the crash is still active, with crews continuing efforts to contain and suppress it.

The 1200 Rd system on the southern side of Rimrock has been closed, and multiple law enforcement agencies are evacuating campers from the area, according to Naches fire officials.

Officials are urging the public to stay away from the area until further notice.

Aviation and firefighting resources, including helicopters and at least one engine from the US Forest Service’s Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, are supporting suppression operations.

By Jeyhun Aghazada