Pilot killed fighting Colorado wildfire identified as Nicholas Dale

British Columbia pilot was only person aboard helicopter that crashed during aerial firefighting

The pilot who died when his helicopter crashed while fighting a Colorado wildfire has been named as Nicholas Dale of Sooke, British Columbia.

Dale, 56, died when his helicopter crashed into the Silver Jack reservoir on Monday while fighting what authorities have named the Gold Mountain fire, the local Gunnison county sheriff’s office said. His body was later recovered from the submerged helicopter by divers.

Local residents, who wanted to show their support for the pilot and the thousands of firefighters assigned to wildfires burning across the US west, later lined the route taken by a convoy carrying Dale’s body from the area.

The Gunnison sheriff’s office expressed “its deepest condolences to Mr Dale’s family, friends, and fellow wildfire-fighting personnel during this incredibly difficult time”.

Colorado representative Jeff Hurd said on X that Dale had “answered the call to serve others, knowing the risks that come with that service.

“We are grateful for his sacrifice, and we honor his memory.”

He added: “Every wildfire season, aerial firefighters put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities and support the men and women on the ground battling dangerous fires.”

The Colorado governor, Jared Polis, said state flags would fly at half-staff when a memorial service is scheduled for Dale, whose survivors include a wife and two children.

“We are committed to supporting our brave firefighters and their families, and the state stands ready to support any investigation into this tragic incident,” Polis said.

The FAA has said the helicopter – a Kaman Aerospace K-1200 – had “crashed under unknown circumstances, becoming inverted”, or turned upside down. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading an investigation into the crash, the FAA said.

Dale’s helicopter’s owner, Helicopter Express, said Dale’s death “is a heartbreaking loss for everyone at [the company] and throughout the aerial firefighting community”.

Dale was the only person onboard his helicopter and had been assisting firefighters battling the Gold Mountain fire, which has grown to about 57 sq miles (148 sq km) in south-western Colorado. It was 11% contained as of Monday.

The accident comes as wildland firefighters in Colorado gathered to pay tribute to three firefighters who died in June after being trapped by flames while fighting a blaze on the state’s border with Utah.

Firefighters Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson and Sydney Watson – along with two others who sustained burn injuries – were overcome by flames from fast-moving fires in Mesa county.

They had deployed emergency protective shelters , which are considered a “last resort” for firefighters when there is no other way out.

Wildfires are burning across many western US states, including Colorado, Utah and New Mexico – while there are wildfires in eight other states from Alaska to Arizona.

Prolonged hot and dry conditions, exacerbated by a relative lack of snowfall over the winter, has amplified fire weather concerns, the National Weather Service (NWS) has said.