A pilot fighting wildfires in western Colorado died Sunday evening when their aircraft crashed into Silver Jack Reservoir while operating against the Gold Mountain Fire. The Gunnison County Sheriff's Office confirmed a single person was aboard and divers recovered the pilot's body from the water. The crash occurred at 5:17 p.m. local time on July 12, 2026.
The Gold Mountain Fire, burning since late June, had scorched roughly 57 square miles and was just 13% contained as of Monday morning. Forced evacuations remained in effect for areas east and northeast of Ouray, with additional orders issued in southwestern Gunnison County. An inquiry has been sent to the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the crash.
Governor Jared Polis secured a FEMA grant for the fire response on July 1. The incident follows the deaths of three wildland firefighters on the Colorado-Utah border in late June.