Three firefighters were injured recently when they were hit with water from a helicopter that missed its dropzone target.
As wildfires continue to spread throughout New Mexico, firefighters have worked around the clock to fight the blazes from the ground and the air.
The Vale Interagency Hotshot crew was trying to contain the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire when thousands of gallons of water were accidentally dropped on them from air support, according to KOB 4.
Two of the firefighters were treated and released from a Santa Fe hospital, but the third victim suffered more severe injuries. That firefighter underwent multiple surgeries to repair a fractured skull and a broken kneecap, KOB 4 reported.
"The crew was working to hold the fire line on the west end of the fire, in the south zone," according to KOB 4.
Air support has been crucial to fighting the fires that have devastated New Mexico, and fire officials said it will continue to be utilized despite the accident.
"It's an option we will use as needed to get the aircraft up to continue the water-dropping missions," John Chester, south section operations chief, said in an online briefing.
The incident remains under investigation.