NEW : The pilot is identified as Geoffrey `` Craig '' Hunt , 62 . Authorities lost contact with an air tanker while it is fighting a blaze in Yosemite . Video from CNN affiliate KCRA showed smoke and flames rising from what appeared to be a tree-lined ridge in a remote valley . A helicopter crew was forced to make an emergency landing after the plane ran out of fuel and crashed into trees near Big Oak Flat on Monday afternoon. 60 homes have been evacuated due to the blaze , according to Yosemite spokesman .
NEW : The pilot is identified as Geoffrey `` Craig '' Hunt , 62 . Authorities lost contact with an air tanker while it is fighting a blaze in Yosemite . A helicopter crew was forced to make an emergency landing after the plane ran out of fuel and crashed into trees near Big Oak Flat on Monday afternoon. 60 homes have been evacuated due to the blaze , according to Yosemite spokesman .