CHICAGO/OTTAWA (XINHUA) - A small plane crashed into a house and caused fire in Lyon Township in the US midwest state of Michigan, local media quoted the Lyon Township Fire Department as saying on Saturday (Jan 2).

The incident happened just before 4pm local time (5am Sunday Singapore time). The fire department called it an active incident and advised people to avoid the incident area.

Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said the house's occupants are reported to be out and the pilot is believed to be in the plane. There was no information yet on the passengers in the plane or the type of plane, local media reported.

Emergency crews are investigating the incident.

In Canada, four people died on Friday when a helicopter crashed into a farmer's field in Alberta, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said on Saturday.

The private helicopter crashed into a farmer's field at about 8.50pm local time (11.50am Saturday Singapore time), killing the four, who were a couple and their two children.

An investigation of the crash is underway.