Colorado: LODD - Bridge collapse - 3 Firefighters dead

Update SEAT crash and bridge collapse LODD: 1333 4-16 -08 - Pilot identified - Gert Marais, 42, of Fort Benton, Montana.
A single-engine, turboprop firefighting plane crashed near Fort Carson, killing the pilot, Gert Marais, 42, of Fort Benton, Mont., Fort Carson spokesman Maj. Sean Ryan said.

Gert Marais worked for Aero Applicators of Sterling, A Colorado crop dusting company that supplies aerial firefighting services to the Colorado State Forest Service, Ryan said.

The National Transportation Safety Board was investigating.

Gert Marais was battling the Fort Carson wildfire that as burned 9,600 acres -- about 15 square miles -- and forced the evacuation of at least a 150 people living near the Army base.Update: 1300 4-16 -08 Colorado Wildfires - CROWLEY COUNTY

The Wild land Fire Line of Duty deaths of 3 Firefighters killed in the Line of Duty yesterday (Tuesday) while working the Ordway Colorado wildland fires two of the firefighters have now been identified as Olney Springs Fire Chief Devore and Olney Springs Firefighter John Schwartz.

Chief Devore and Olney Springs Firefighter John Schwartz were crossing a fire-damaged bridge in heavy smoke when they tried to cross the collapsed or weakened bridge structure. Trapping and killing both of them in the Line of Duty.

Olney Springs Fire Chief DeVore - Was the Father of four children, ages 10 to 4.

Olney Springs Fire Firefighter John Schwartz - Was the father of four children as well, ages 4 to 16.

Photo of the collapsed bridge Credit: AP Photo



Update SEAT crash: 1300 4-16 -08

UPI - FORT CARSON, Colo., April 16 (UPI) -- A pilot was killed Tuesday evening when his firefighting plane crashed and two other people died in wildfires plaguing Colorado, authorities said.

"He dumped his slurry and they say that it looked like it pulled up and then it just nosedived into the ground," El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said of the pilot who died helping put out a blaze at Fort Carson.

The crash occurred near Highway 115 south of Colorado Springs. The pilot's name hadn't been released but the single-engine aircraft was registered to Aero Applicators of Sterling, which was working under contract with the state forest service, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported.

Update: Including the SEAT pilot this would indicate at least three Colorado firefighters have died fighting these massive wind driven wildfires, The 6,500 acre fire in Ordway Colorado and the 2,000 acre Wildfire in Fort Carson area- More details to comeThis is the second fire to break out Tuesday after the Fort Carson fire. Ordway, Colorado in Crowley County is 46 miles East of Pueblo, Colorado and 76 miles southeast of Colorado Springs.
And at least two civilians have died.
CROWLEY COUNTY - Two firefighters killed while battling the raging wildfires in Ordway and the 2,000 acre Wildfire in Fort Carson area.

Terry Devore and another firefighter were crossing a bridge while riding in a fire truck. The bridge collapsed, trapping the two men underneath. The two volunteer firefighters were killed when a bridge damaged by flames collapsed under their fire truck, state Rep. Cory Gardner, whose district includes Ordway, told legislative leaders Wednesday.

The name of the SEAT pilot has not yet been released. The condition of the second trapped firefighter is unkown at this time.

Source: Colorado: LODD - Bridge collapse - 1 Firefighter dead