A helicopter pilot working on the Derby fire in western Colorado is OK after crashing Friday near the Eagle County airport while working the fire, the U.S. Forest Service said Friday night in a news release.
The pilot was picked up by another incident aircraft and flown to Eagle County Regional Airport. The pilot had minor bumps and bruises, the Forest Service said. The agency said there is an unconfirmed report that the aircraft is in a lake 13 miles northwest of the airport. The fire is burning near Sweetwater Lake in Garfield County.
The Forest Service said it has an investigative team en route and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified. Officials did not say what type of aircraft was involved, and said no other information would be released at this time.
The Derby fire was started by lightning Aug. 16 about 13 miles north of Dotsero and has burned more than 4,100 acres in Eagle and Garfield counties and is 0% contained.