Firefighting Plane Crashes Battling Colorado's Gold Mountain Fire, Pilot Killed

A pilot's body was recovered on Sunday evening after a helicopter crashed in Colorado while fighting a wildfire. Read on for the details of this tragedy, as well as an update on the wildfire situation in this corner of the country.

Firefighter Killed Battling Colorado's Gold Mountain Fire

A K-MAX helicopter crashed on Sunday at about 5 pm local time in Gunnison County, Colorado, killing the lone pilot on board. The aircraft had been dispatched to fight the Gold Mountain Fire burning to the southwest of Aspen and near the community of Ouray.

According to the Gunnison County Sheriff's Office, the plane went down at the Silver Jack Reservoir. It took less than two hours for search crews to recover the body. The identity of the pilot has not been released.

The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 said on Monday that the Gold Mountain Fire has grown to over 56 square miles in size, equivalent to over 36,000 acres. As of Monday morning, the blaze was just 13% contained. Over 1,000 personnel are on the scene fighting this growing inferno.

The massive wildfires have prompted several evacuation orders across portions of Gunnison and Ouray counties. Residents in some areas of Montrose County have also been put on alert that evacuations may be issued.

Firefighters worked through the night Sunday to reinforce the containment lines along the Highway 550 corridor. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the Gold Mountain Fire.

The Four Corners region of the U.S. has been the nation's hotspot for wildfire activity in recent months. Unseasonably warm temperatures and a lack of rain have amplified this threat heading into the peak of the wildfire season.

Although humidity levels are forecast to increase and provide a bit of relief to fire crews this week, temperatures are also on the upswing. Meteorologists are offering hope that the beginning of the North American monsoon season may increase the chances of precipitation in the coming weeks.

For instance, the town of Ouray is under the threat of rain and thunderstorms throughout the week. While the incoming moisture is good news for fire crews, the accompanying threat of gusty storms could exacerbate the situation.

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