ORIENT — About 100 firefighters are battling a 50-acre wildfire near the town of Orient in northeast Washington that was ignited when a logging helicopter crashed.
The Forest Service says the 30-year-old pilot was rescued after Thursday evening’s crash and is in good condition in a Colville hospital.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer says the helicopter was a UH-1.
Witnesses report the helicopter had just lifted off with a load of logs when there was a loud popping noise and it crashed.
Orient is about 90 miles north of Spokane.
