Colorado firefighting pilot killed when plane crashes into reservoir

A aviator helping conflict a raging Colorado wildfire was recovered dormant aft the firefighting craft crashed into a upland reservoir Sunday evening, authorities said.

The Montrose County Sheriff's Office Dive Team has recovered the pilot's assemblage from Silver Jack Reservoir, Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie said successful a statement. The assemblage volition beryllium taken to the Gunnison County Coroner's Office.

The pilot's sanction has not been released portion authorities notify household members.

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A firefighting level is seen dumping occurrence retardant connected trees and vegetation successful the country of the Gold Mountain Fire connected Thursday July 2, 2026. (Facebook/Gold Mountain Fire)

The clang was reported astatine astir 5:17 p.m. Sunday aft the Gunnison Regional Communications Center received a telephone astir an craft down successful Silver Jack Reservoir successful the southwestern country of Gunnison County.

Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire successful southwestern Colorado is seen billowing implicit the mountains connected Friday, July 10, 2026. (Facebook/Gold Mountain Fire)

Sheriff's officials said the craft was assigned to the Gold Mountain Fire, which has been burning successful southwestern Colorado. Early accusation indicated the aviator was the lone idiosyncratic connected board.

Investigators person not said what caused the craft to crash. Deputies, investigators and the Montrose County Sheriff's Office dive squad responded to the scene.

A helispot, a determination wherever a chopper tin onshore and instrumentality off, is seen adjacent the country of the Gold Mountain wildfire connected Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Facebook/Gold Mountain Fire)

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The Gold Mountain Fire has burned astir 35,600 acres and was 5% contained arsenic of Sunday, according to the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program. Fire officials expect the blaze to stay active, with shifting winds apt to propulsion fume into antithetic communities implicit the adjacent respective days.

Smoke from the Gold Mountain Fire successful southwestern Colorado is seen billowing into the entity connected Friday, July 10, 2026. (Facebook/Gold Mountain Fire)

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An aerial prime wellness advisory for wildfire fume remains successful effect crossed parts of central, confederate and occidental Colorado.

Authorities said they volition merchandise further accusation aft the pilot's adjacent of kin has been notified.