Tanker Plane Fighting Australia's Bushfires Crashes, Killing U.S. Crew Of 3

Enlarge this image toggle caption Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via Reuters Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via Reuters

Updated at 9:32 p.m. ET

Three U.S. firefighters helping fight Australia's bushfires were killed Thursday when the C-130 tanker aircraft they were operating crashed south of the capital, Canberra.

"Tragically, there appears to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area," Shane Fitzsimmons, the Rural Fire Services Commissioner for New South Wales state, said at a news conference.

He said the tanker "impacted heavily with the ground and initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground."

"There is no indication at this stage of what's caused the accident," he added.

The C-130 Hercules, a converted military transport, was operated by Canadian-based Coulson Aviation. The aircraft was on a "firebombing mission," the company said in a statement.

Capt. Ian McBeth, 44, First Officer Clyde Hudson, 42, and Flight Engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr., 43, died in the crash, Coulson Aviation said in a statement.

"At Coulson Aviation, we have the incredible job of fighting fires around the world and we take pride in this responsibility," the company said. "Right now, our hearts are with the crew's family and friends and our Coulson Family suffering in the loss of these three remarkable and well-respected crew-members."

The crash, which occurred near Cooma, northeast of the Snowy Mountains, comes as Australia continues fighting massive bushfires fueled by record-setting temperatures. A fire southeast of Canberra, one of several firefighters are battling, has engulfed nearly 1,000 square miles and is considered out of control.

Enlarge this image toggle caption Noah Berger/AP Noah Berger/AP

"The fire season is still far from over and today we've seen, again, tragic consequences, where three people have lost their lives," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

"Our thoughts and prayers and heartfelt condolences go to their families," she said.

Berejiklian said more than 1,700 volunteers were in the field helping to fight the fires.

"We can't thank enough people who continue, notwithstanding those conditions, to put their lives at risk," she said.

"It's just a ball of flames," a nearby plane reportedly radioed flight control after witnessing the crash.

Coulson, which temporarily suspended its tanker flights as a mark of respect and to reassess safety precautions, said it would send a team to the crash site to assist in emergency operations.

Since September, 32 people have been killed as a result of the bushfires, including more than a dozen firefighters.

The bushfires, which have scorched an area larger than the state of Pennsylvania, have also killed an estimated 1 billion animals and destroyed 2,500 homes.