Colorado air tanker pilot dies in crash while fighting fire near Estes Park

LARMIER COUNTY, CO — An investigation is underway after one person died in an airplane crash in the Rocky Mountains Tuesday evening. 

Larmier County authorities say reports of an air tanker crash south of Estes Park came in around 6:30 p.m. The crash site was not found until about three hours later. The Larmier County Sheriff says the pilot and lone occupant of the plane did not survive. The pilot's identity was not made public in the release.

The FAA and NTSB are leading the investigation. 

The crash occurred while multiple crews were responding to a wildfire in the area which was first reported southeast of Estes Park Tuesday morning. The blaze has since been named the Kruger Rock Fire. 

As of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, evacuation notices were sent to 1,644 contacts. No structure damage has been reported. 

As of Tuesday evening, the fire was estimated at 133 acres and at 15 percent containment. 

Much like the Buffalo Creek Fire in the Nebraska panhandle, dry, windy conditions and rugged terrain have hampered firefighting efforts. 

Officials say high winds blew a tree onto a nearby power line causing it to arc and start the fire.