The pilot who died in a plane crash Wednesday afternoon while battling the Horse Gulch Fire northeast of Helena was identified by the county sheriff on Thursday as 45-year-old Juliana Turchetti, a native of Brazil.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton shared Turchetti's identity with the Daily Montanan shortly after noon Thursday. The FireBoss pilot died when her plane, a single-engine Air Tractor AT-802 with a water scoop, struck the mountainside and landed in Hauser Lake, Dutton said in a text message.

Tuchetti was employed by Idaho-based Dauntless Air, a company that has operated firefighting aircraft for more than 25 years and has held state and federal contracts since 2009, according to the company's website. The company was contracted to fly for the U.S. Forest Service, officials said Wednesday.

Dutton said Turchetti was a native of Brazil and had been working in the U.S. on a visa. Dutton said Turchetti leaves behind a 17-year-old son and “numerous” family members in Brazil.

“We extend our sincere condolences to the family, the poor service partners and the aviation community,” Dutton said in a message.

Dauntless Air did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Thursday afternoon.

The human-caused Horse Gulch Fire had expanded to 2,000 acres by early Thursday afternoon, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Evacuation orders remain in effect for residents of Canyon Ferry Road from JimTown Road to the Broadwater County line and for all roads north and south of Canyon Ferry Road between JimTown Road and the Broadwater County line. Several roads and trails are also closed in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.

The Montana Red Cross opened an evacuation center for people who needed to evacuate Wednesday evening at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church, 3580 N. Benton Street in Helena.

A Type 3 Incident Management Team took over firefighting Thursday morning. Crews worked through the night to lay fire lines on the south end of the fire to prevent it from reaching homes, completing a line from Jim Town Road to Little Hellgate Gulch.

According to a report released Thursday morning, emergency crews are focused on preventing the fire from spreading to private properties to the west and south on Thursday. Aircraft will focus on the southern edge of the fire.

On Thursday, maximum temperatures will again be above 30 degrees and emergency services are expecting dry and windy conditions at the fire scene, as well as irregular gusts of wind and the possibility of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into Wednesday's crash with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office. A preliminary report will be released within 30 days.

In a joint statement Wednesday evening, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and Idaho Governor Brad Little said they were “deeply saddened” to learn of the pilot's death.

“Our first responders and wildfire fighters risk their lives to quickly respond to threats and protect our communities. Running toward a fire is a true act of bravery. We join all Montanans and Idahoans in praying for the fallen hero's family and friends during this tragic time,” they said.