Deadly plane crash sparks fire near Wetmore

Posted: Jul 3, 2011 6:16 PM by Stephanie Collins, Nicole Vandeputte
Updated: Jul 4, 2011 3:17 AM

The Custer County Sheriff's Office says a small plane crashed this afternoon, sparking a large fire near Wetmore.

The FAA tells News First 5 that two people were on that plane. Custer County Sheriff's deputies say one person died on impact. The other person has been taken to a hospital in Colorado Springs. We don't know who they are, or what caused the crash. The FAA spokesman says emergency crews haven't been able to get to the wreckage, because it's behind the fire lines.

The Mason fire is burning 70 acres right now near highway 96 off County Road 388 in the San Isabel National Forest. It's burning on US forest service land. Forest Service officials say it is burning near the community of Greenwood, and structures are threatened. No evacuations have been ordered, but some homeowners have been put on standby.

News First 5 viewers have been giving us several reports. One viewer says she could see flames from the fire as far away as Canon City.

There are at least 80 firefighters on the scene, and two air tankers trying to stop the spread of the fire.

We have a News First 5 crew on scene and are working to get more information.