A pilot assisting in the fight against the Gold Mountain fire in Colorado died after his aircraft crashed into a reservoir, local authorities confirmed. The Gunnison County Sheriff's Office reported that the crash occurred around 5:17 p.m. local time on Sunday, July 14, 2024. The aircraft went down in Silver Jack Reservoir in southwestern Gunnison County.
Crash Details and Recovery
The sheriff's office stated, "the aircraft has been confirmed to be engaged in firefighting operations with the Gold Mountain fire," which has been burning since June 27. Initially, authorities believed one person was onboard. A dive team from the Montrose County Sheriff's Office was dispatched and later recovered the pilot's body from the aircraft. The pilot's remains were transported to the coroner's office in Gunnison. No further information was released until the pilot's family was formally notified.
Gold Mountain Fire Status
As of Monday morning, the Gold Mountain fire had burned more than 35,000 acres and was 13% contained. Evacuation orders were issued for parts of southwestern Gunnison County. The cause of the wildfire, first reported northeast of Ouray County, remained undetermined as of Monday.
State and Federal Response
On July 1, Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced that the state received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Management Assistance Grant to support the Gold Mountain fire response. Polis said, "I am deeply grateful for the hardworking brave firefighters putting their lives on the line to protect us and keep our communities safe."
Recent Wildfire Fatalities
The pilot's death follows the US Wildland Fire Service's announcement that three firefighters were killed and two others injured while responding to wildfires along the Colorado-Utah border in late June. Firefighters across Colorado continue to battle several major wildfires that ignited in recent weeks.
Other Active Wildfires
The Ferris fire in southwestern Colorado had burned over 64,000 acres and was 23% contained as of Sunday. Evacuation orders were issued for some areas, and Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency on July 8, activating the state emergency operations plan. The Willow fire, west of Leadville and started on June 28, was 33% contained as of Sunday, burning 5,853 acres. The Aspen Acres fire, northwest of Rye, began in late June and had burned 98,100 acres, with 35% containment as of Monday.
