A pilot ejected safely before their aircraft crashed near Rimrock Lake on Saturday, sparking a wildfire that prompted evacuations and a multi-agency firefighting response in the area roughly halfway between Mount Rainier National Park and Yakima.
According to the Naches Fire Department, the pilot was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and assessment after ejecting prior to the crash. The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the pilot sustained only minor injuries.
The crash ignited a wildfire that Naches Fire Department crews responded to immediately, working to protect nearby structures from the spreading flames. By 4:45 p.m., NFD confirmed campers were being evacuated by local agencies and the 1200 Road system on the south side of Rimrock had been shut down. Crews successfully protected Bear Creek Cabins from the fire by approximately 4 p.m. on 13 June. Air support continued attacking the fire into the evening, supported by at least one ground crew from the US Forest Service at Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Fire department representatives said crews will likely return Sunday to mop up the site and prevent reignition.
The size of the fire and the total burned area have not yet been confirmed, and the type of military aircraft involved in Saturday’s crash has not been disclosed.
