Pilot dies fighting Colorado wildfires

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A pilot died on Sunday when his helicopter crashed as he fought wildfires in Colorado, according to local authorities.

The Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) said on Facebook the pilot, 56-year-old Nicholas Dale, died after his K-MAX helicopter, manufactured by Kaman Aircraft, crashed into Silver Jack Reservoir at roughly 5:17 p.m. MDT.

The reservoir is tucked into a high mountain valley and is surrounded by the Uncompahgre National Forest.

Dale, a native of Sooke, British Columbia, was “engaged in wildfire suppression efforts” amid the Gold Mountain Fire, which began on June 27. The fire has burned more than 36,200 acres near Ouray, Colo., and is 11 percent contained as of Monday morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s InciWeb risk management system.

Later Sunday evening, the dive team from the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office recovered Dale’s body from the submerged helicopter and transferred it to the Gunnison County Coroner’s Office, according to GCSO.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Monday they are investigating the incident, with the NTSB leading the probe. The FAA’s preliminary accident report noted the crash occurred “under unknown circumstances,” with Dale the only individual on board the K-1200 chopper.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) said Monday he was “devastated” to hear of Dale’s death. The governor added the state’s flags will fly at half-staff on the day of his memorial.

“My heart goes out to the pilot’s friends, family, and colleagues who mourn this immense loss,” Polis said in a release. “We are committed to supporting our brave firefighters and their families, and the State stands ready to support any investigation into this tragic incident.”

As a result of the ongoing Gold Mountain Fire, the Forest Service has closed a variety of land in the area to the public. As of July 2, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests’ Ouray Ranger District had shut off access to at least 15 trailheads, campgrounds and cabins.

The GMUG forests also responded over the weekend to the Elk Fire in the Uncompahgre Wilderness. The fire, which began on Thursday and is burning to the east of the larger Gold Mountain Fire, has spread across 344 acres as of Monday afternoon, according to InciWeb.

“The fire is burning in rugged terrain within wilderness boundaries, complicating access and requiring specialized resources,” the Forest Service noted in a Friday release. “Crews are working to establish containment and limit the potential for growth. There are no threats to communities or infrastructure at this time.”

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Colorado wildfires

helicopter crash

Jared Polis

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