A US military Apache helicopter crashed near Salado, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon, killing both people aboard and sparking a large, uncontrolled grass fire in Bell County. The AH-64 Apache, which took off from Fort Hood, went down shortly after 1:30 PM near an area just south of Salado and about a mile west of Interstate 35, Bell County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cliff Coleman said.

A military official told the Associated Press that the helicopter was on a routine training flight when it went down. The two occupants were pronounced dead at the scene by a local justice of the peace. Authorities have not announced the cause of the crash.

The crash sparked a large grass fire that remained uncontained as of 3 PM. Salado, Jarrell, Eastside and Westside firefighters responded to the blaze. Several homes were evacuated, although the helicopter did not hit any homes or other structures, Coleman said. FM 2843 was reported to be “impassable” in the area of the fire, and authorities urged drivers to avoid the area.

Fort Hood’s Army Criminal Investigation Division is leading the crash investigation, with Bell County authorities and the Texas Department of Public Safety assisting.

Fort Hood is a massive military installation near Killeen, Texas, covering about 214,968 acres. The Army uses the surrounding terrain as a training ground for heavy forces.

The AH-64 Apache has been a key part of the US military’s fleet since its first versions were deployed in 1984. The helicopter has a two-person crew, with the pilot seated in the rear and the co-pilot gunner in the front.

Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general, said the immediate priority was securing the crash site and supporting the initial response efforts. “Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information,” he said.