South Dakota firefighters sent out to assist in Colorado wildfires
MADISON WILLIS Journal staff
A ferocious wildfire has devoured 36,965 acres of southwestern Colorado, with flames consuming Montrose, Gunnison and Ouray Counties. A devastating march that turned tragic on Sunday, July 12, when the Gold Mountain Fire claimed the life of a helicopter pilot battling the flames from above.
Three Fairburn, S.D. firefighters from the Fairburn Volunteer Fire Department, along with others from the Black Hawk, Piedmont and Rapid City fire departments, set off June 27 to answer the call for help at the Gold Mountain Fire.
As of Tuesday, July 14, the fire is 12% contained.
Three Fairburn, S.D. firefighters from Fairburn Volunteer Fire Department, along with several others from the Black Hawk, Piedmont and Rapid City fire departments, set off June 27 to answer the call for help at the Gold Mountain Fire.
Courtesy Fairburn Volunteer Fire Department
After the assistance from Colorado firefighters in containing the Qury Fire that claimed 9,161 acres in the Black Hills near Custer, Fairburn Volunteer Fire Department’s District Treasurer Moritz Espy said there was no doubt in anyone’s minds that they wouldn’t go help their neighboring state.
“If your neighbor comes over and helps you, you should go back and help your neighbor,” Espy said.
Espy said the crews have been proactively preparing the areas that are forecasted in the fire’s path. Their work includes readying homes and essential infrastructure by implementing fire protection measures.
This involves the setup of hose lays to ensure water supply to strategic points around properties and the installation of sprinklers to protect assets. These fire mitigation systems are backed by portable tanks and pumps, which require meticulous setup and testing to ensure effectiveness.
The crews have been working about 16-hour days for a little over three weeks to help contain the fires. Taking in jobs out of state helps maintain volunteer fire departments’ infrastructure and resupply so they can continue to assist in local fires, Espy said.
The crews have been proactively preparing the areas that are forecasted in the fire’s path. Their work includes readying homes and essential infrastructure by implementing fire protection measures.
Courtesy Fairburn Volunteer Fire Department
Though the crews are paid, Espy said it requires a sense of purpose rather than an incentive to face that level of danger. Each firefighter is motivated by the overwhelming community support.
“It’s helping people, it’s wired in our DNA to help people and everyone wants to help somehow,” Espy said.
With most of the Midwest facing heat waves and drought conditions for the past several months, Espy said the Gold Mountain Fire is not the only one Fairburn Volunteer Fire Department is assisting in. Espy himself is helping fight against another Colorado wildfire — the Ferris Fire has claimed 64,868 acres and is 29% contained.
Canadian helicopter pilot dies in fire
The Gunnison County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Sunday, July 12, the pilot who died after his K-MAX helicopter crashed into Silver Jack Reservoir was identified as 56-year-old Nicholas Dale of Sooke, British Columbia, Colorado.
Dale was the only occupant in the helicopter and was engaging in wildfire suppression efforts in support of the Gold Mountain Fire when the aircraft went down at 5:17 p.m. in the southwest region of Gunnison County. The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team recovered his body from the submerged helicopter later that evening and he was transferred to the Gunnison County Coroner’s Office.
“The Gunnison Sheriff's Office offers its deepest condolences to Mr. Dale's family, friends, and fellow wildfire-fighting personnel during this incredibly difficult time,” the department wrote on Facebook.
The helicopter crash investigation is being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.
You can contact Madison at mwillis@rapidcityjournal.com
