Colorado Wildfire Kills Pilot & Two Firefighters

by Stephanie Sobotka | April 16, 2008 at 08:36 am | 262 views | add comment | 0 recommendations

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The Colorado wildfire in the small town of Ordway is now 90% contained. Two volunteer firefighters were tragically killed while battling the blaze. A pilot was also killed while his firefighting plane crashed near Fort Carson Army Base. The fire spread over 8,000 acres, forcing 1100 residents to evacuate.

The grass fire, which has consumed more than 8,900 acres and claimed two lives, reached the town limits Tuesday afternoon, filling the air with soot and embers.

Two volunteer firefighters were killed when a bridge damaged by flames collapsed under their fire truck.

Terry Davore, 29, and John Schwartz, Jr., 38 were acting as volunteer firefighters for Olney Springs Volunteer Fire Department.

More than 1,100 people were evacuated to Sugar City, Crowley, Rocky Ford and La Junta, said Polly White, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Division of Emergency Management.

About 40 people spent the night at shelters, while others found spots with family and friends.

It is anticipated evacuees will be allowed back to their homes later this morning.

Eight homes in town were destroyed, and 16 more outside the town limits. Numerous sheds and other buildings were also destroyed.

The fire burned a bridge, focing the closure of Colorado 95 between Crowley and Ordway. Colorado 71 was also closed.

She expected the blaze to be fully contained by noon.