The third fatality was the pilot of a single-engine, turboprop crop-duster tanker that crashed about 6:20 Tuesday evening along Colorado 115 at mile marker 34 near Fort Carson, said Michael Fergus, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration’s northwest region.
The pilot was identified as Gert Marais, 42, of Fort Benton, Mont., Fort Carson spokesman Maj. Sean Ryan said today. Marais worked for Aero Applicators, a Sterling company that supplies aerial firefighting services,
I just heard on the radio that the Carbondale fire was only 25% contained at 11:00 MST. I have not heard about the other two fires yet.
The other two killed were Department of Corrections officers who were acting as volunteer firefighters. Their truck either tried to cross a bridge that had collapsed or their truck caused the bridge to collapse, not very clear in the news report.
I see on radar that some light precipitation is moving through Carbondale. The fire there was just reported again as 1,000 acres and 25% contained. The Ft Carson and Ordway fires were much larger. No news on containment. The size is also confusing, either 9,000 acres each or 9,000 acres combined.
Just found reported this morning that the Ft Carson fire was 9,600 acres and 0% contained. The Ordway fire is reported as 90% contained, no report on current size.
Thank you for the update.