A wildland firefighting plane assigned to battle the Horse Gulch Fire tragically crashed on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 12:15 p.m. in the Hauser Lake portion of the Missouri River, below the dam, according to Lewis and Clark County Sheriff, Leo Dutton.

Sheriff Dutton confirmed that the crashed plane, which was on contract with the Forest Service, was scooping water at the time. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, is currently in an unknown condition.

The Horse Gulch Fire, located approximately five miles south of York and two miles north of Canyon Ferry Reservoir, has been a cause for concern. As of Wednesday afternoon, the blaze has consumed an estimated 450 acres of land and remains 0% contained.

In response to the worsening situation, the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office issued a pre-evacuation notice at around 2:45 p.m. for the areas of Horse Gulch and Cave Gulch due to the wildfire. Residents in these areas have been urged to stay vigilant and prepared for possible evacuation as conditions continue to change.

Sheriff Dutton has already taken steps to investigate the incident, notifying the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the crash. These agencies will lead the investigation into the cause of the accident.

MTN reporters are on the scene and will provide updates as more information becomes available. To stay informed about this developing story and breaking news, sign up for the Breaking News Newsletter.