GUNNISON COUNTY, Colo. — A pilot fighting the Gold Mountain Fire died after an aircraft crashed into a Gunnison County reservoir on Sunday, according to the local sheriff's office.
At 5:17 p.m. on Sunday, the Gunnison Regional Communications Center received a report that an aircraft had gone down in the Silver Jack Reservoir in the southwest part of the county, the Gunnison County Sheriff's Office said.
The aircraft was part of the firefighting effort with the Gold Mountain Fire, Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie confirmed.
In an update at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, the sheriff's office said the body of the pilot was recovered from the aircraft. The person has not been identified.
The body will be transported to the Gunnison County Coroner's Office.
The cause of the incident is unknown.
Wildfire
Gold Mountain Fire: Fire remains active on Saturday
Silver Jack Reservoir is about 12 miles northeast of Ridgway and 15 miles northeast of Ouray. The lake covers nearly 300 acres.
The Scripps News Group is working to determine what type of aircraft was involved. Airtankers and helicopters have been working around the fire since it first sparked on June 27.
The Gold Mountain Fire has burned more than 35,000 acres as of Sunday evening, according to the incident management team. Watch Duty is reporting that containment increased Sunday from 5% to 13%.
Silver Jack Reservoir is about 12 miles northeast of Ridgway and 15 miles northeast of Ouray. The lake covers nearly 300 acres.
"The Montrose County Sheriff's Office dive team along with multiple additional resources, including the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division, are currently at the scene to assist," the Gunnison County Sheriff's Office said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
