Update: Colorado Firefighter Line of duty deaths

All three firefighters killed Tuesday during firefighting operations in Colorado have been identified.

The firefighting aircraft pilot was identified as Gert Marais, 42, of Fort Benton, Montana.
Gert Marais worked for Aero Applicators a Sterling, Colorado crop dusting company that supplies aerial firefighting services to the Colorado State Forest Service.
The 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.

The two Volunteer firefighters killed in a bridge collapse during fire fighting operations have been Identified as Olney Springs Fire Chief DeVore - Who was the Father of four children, ages 10 to 4.
Olney Springs Fire Firefighter John Schwartz - Who was the father of four children as well, ages 4 to 16.

Both were corrections officers at a state prison outside Ordway and were members of the Olney Springs Volunteer Fire Department, said Ari Zavaras, director of the state Department of Corrections.

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

Firefighting aircraft were grounded for a safety stand-down after the fatal aircraft crash but were cleared to fly again Wednesday if needed, said Steve Segin, a spokesman for the Rocky Mountain Area Coordinating Center, which organizes state and federal firefighting agencies.

Gov. Bill Ritter declared a state of emergency, freeing up state resources to help fight the fires. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also agreed to provide money for the firefighting efforts.

Editor: Our sincerest condolences to Family, friends and co-workers the firefighting community will miss them.