Editor’s note: This story has been changed to correctly indicate the change in the team overseeing the fire response.
The pilot who died when his aircraft went down in Silver Jack Reservoir Sunday was identified Monday as 56-year-old Nicholas Dale of Sooke, British Columbia.
The Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Dale was the sole occupant of a K-MAX helicopter that crashed into the reservoir while fighting the Gold Mountain Fire.
Dale’s body was escorted through Montrose on Monday morning, honored with streets lined with people who gathered to see the procession pass through town. A procession of fire engines, ambulances and other vehicles traveled from Gunnison to Grand Junction.
The aircraft was assisting with fighting the Gold Mountain Fire when it crashed into the reservoir, authorities have confirmed. There’s no indication yet what led to the crash or the cause of the pilot’s death, and it is still under investigation.
A new firefighting management team will assume control of operations of the Gold Mountain Fire on Tuesday morning, as forecasters call for increasing chances of desperately needed rain by mid-week.
Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 will turn over command of the fire to Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 on Tuesday. Team 3 has been in charge of managing the fire since June 29.
Firefighters spent the day Sunday reinforcing containment lines and patrolling structures along the U.S. Highway 550 corridor and in the Cow Creek drainage east of Ridgway. Crews are also reinforcing containment lines and working to protect structures around Silver Jack Reservoir, High Mesa, Bear Claw and nearby homes and ranches, according to an update posted Monday morning.
Firefighters continue to implement strategic firing operations along the eastern front of the fire to slow its progress.
“Firefighters continue to utilize natural features and heavy equipment to construct line along the west side of Cimarron Ridge. This line is essential to protect values at risk along the Forest boundary,” fire managers wrote in their Monday update.
A prolonged hot and dry period may finally give way to some rain this week, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters are calling for a 30% to 40% chance of rain in Ridgway Monday and Tuesday, with chances increasing to 60% by Wednesday. The flip side of that is the possibility of lightning, which could trigger new fires, and flash flooding.
“Gusty outflow winds up to 40-50 mph and lightning are primary concerns during the initial onset of moisture, but chances of wetting rain and heavier rain rates increase by mid to late week. This is when burn scar flash flooding will become our primary concern,” weather service forecasters wrote in a forecast discussion posted Monday morning.
The fire grew to 36,259 acres as of Monday morning, with 11% containment. A total of 985 personnel are assigned to the fire.
