Pilot Dies in Colorado Firefighting Aircraft Crash

A pilot involved in combating a severe wildfire in Colorado has been discovered dead following the crash of the firefighting aircraft in a mountain reservoir on Sunday evening, according to authorities. The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team successfully retrieved the pilot’s body from Silver Jack Reservoir, as confirmed by Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie in a statement. The body is set to be transported to the Gunnison County Coroner’s Office. Authorities have withheld the pilot’s name pending notification of family members.

Reports from the Gunnison Regional Communications Center state that the crash was reported around 5:17 p.m. Sunday, following a call concerning an aircraft down in Silver Jack Reservoir located in the southwestern portion of Gunnison County. The aircraft was tasked with supporting the Gold Mountain Fire operations, a blaze currently active in southwestern Colorado. Initial information suggests the pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the crash. Responding to the incident were deputies, investigators, and the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team. The Gold Mountain Fire has consumed approximately 35,600 acres and was only 5% contained as of Sunday, according to the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program. Fire officials anticipate that the fire will remain active, with shifting winds predicted to disperse smoke into various communities in the coming days.

The state’s health authorities have issued an air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke affecting areas across central, southern, and western Colorado. Further details are expected to be disclosed once the pilot’s next of kin has been informed.