GUNNISON, Colo. (AP) — A tragic incident unfolded as a firefighting aircraft crashed into a reservoir in Colorado, resulting in the pilot’s death, authorities have confirmed.
The crash was reported on Sunday, with the aircraft going down in Silver Jack Reservoir. Divers recovered the pilot’s body, as stated by the Gunnison County sheriff’s office in an online post.
The pilot, apparently the sole occupant of the aircraft, was engaged in efforts to battle the Gold Mountain Fire. This fire has been burning for two weeks and has spread to roughly 57 square miles (148 square kilometers) in southwestern Colorado. As of early Monday, containment was at 13%.
Further details about the crash have been requested from the Federal Aviation Administration via email.
This incident comes shortly after a somber gathering of wildland firefighters in Colorado to honor three colleagues who perished after being overtaken by flames near the Colorado-Utah border last week.
Many large fires are still going strong across the West. They are scattered around Colorado, Utah and New Mexico while there are wildfires in eight other states — from Alaska to Arizona.
Prolonged hot and dry conditions this week will bring fire weather concerns, the National Weather Service said.