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Estes Park CO. - At 9:45 PM Mountain Time, the air tanker that crashed while fighting the Kruger Rock Fire outside Estes Park was located by first responders. 

According to radio traffic on the Larimer County Emergency Services channel, a medic is en route to the crash site, located in the Hermit Park area southeast of Estes Park along Hwy. 36.

According to the reported tail number of the plane, The aircraft is Model AT-802A, which is a single-engine, two-seat, turboprop, fixed-wing aircraft registered to a company out of Fort Morgan. 

Depending on conditions, the crash site is in the path of the encroaching fire-line and could be impacted by the Kruger Rock Fire tomorrow. 

According to a press release from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, the pilot and only occupant of the aircraft did not survive the crash. The investigation into the crash will be lead by the FAA and NTSB.

Our thoughts go out to the family and fellow first responders of the pilot.