Two Dead After Military Helicopter Crashes In Texas, Starting Wildfire
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In the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 12, a military helicopter crashed near Salado, Texas.
Two service members from Fort Hood were onboard the helicopter, and both were declared dead upon the arrival of first responders on the scene, around 1:35 p.m. CT, according to local CBS Austin.
Their identities have not yet been disclosed, but are expected within 24 hours.
The helicopter was an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter from Fort Hood, and did not crash into any structures.
A spokesperson for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, Cliff Coleman, told CNN, as quoted by CBS Austin, “It crashed into a field, and you could tell it was a violent crash.”
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Response To The Military Helicopter Wreck, And The Wildfire It Started
While the wreck did not affect any structures, it did spark a wildfire.
In a statement issued by Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, 1st Calvary Division acting commanding general, said, “Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts.”
Responding to the blaze, dubbed the fire the Dove Hollow Fire, the Texas A&M Forest Service said it had the fire 45% contained as of around 5:30 p.m. CT, reporting that the fire had spread over 100 acres.
In a statement issued a few hours later, at approximately 5:30 p.m. CT, Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven said, “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families, friends, and fellow Troopers of those involved during this incredibly difficult time.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott invited the public to join him in prayer for the families of those who were in the crash.
He added, “Texas is forever indebted to those who serve our state and nation.”
See his full statement, here:
Today, an Apache helicopter crashed in Bell County during Fort Hood operations, killing two members of our military.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 12, 2026
Join Cecilia and me in prayer for their families and the entire Fort Hood community. Texas is forever indebted to those who serve our state and nation.…
See footage of the crash, and the response, here:
🚨 BREAKING: A US Army Apache gunship has CRASHED near Salado, Texas, sparking a LARGE fire
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 12, 2026
Two service members are confirmed dead. Pray for their families today 🙏🏻
Salado is southeast of Fort Hood, but has not confirmed the helicopter came from their base.…
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