At least one person has been confirmed dead after a twin-engine plane crash Sunday morning that sparked a small wildfire in the area between Lefthand Canyon Drive and Gold Hill Road, near Ward, northwest of Boulder.
Peter Knudson, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board, also confirmed that a total of four people were on board the Cessna T337G and that he knew of no survivors. An NTSB investigator is expected to be at the crash site Monday.
Confirmation of the total number of victims will be made later after further investigation of the scene, Knudson said.
Cmdr. Vinny Montez of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said the initial call of a plane crash in a densely covered area in the 11000 block of Lefthand Canyon Drive came in at 9:41 a.m.
Montez said the intense heat at the scene made it impossible for investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Boulder County Medical Examiner’s Office to safely approach the plane Sunday afternoon.
As the wildfire raged after the crash, an evacuation warning was issued for residents near the 10000 block of Lefthand Canyon Drive and the towns of Gold Hill and Ward at 10:31 a.m., according to a release from Everbridge. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office lifted that evacuation warning at 11:37 a.m
Despite dry conditions, multiple agencies from surrounding areas, including Boulder Mountain Fire, Left Hand Fire, Colorado State Patrol and Indian Peaks Fire, responded to the scene and were able to contain the crash to about an acre. As of Sunday evening, it was reported to be 90% contained, with a smaller crew remaining on site throughout the night.
After the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that the evacuation order was lifted, area residents thanked fire and rescue crews via social media for their quick response.
Authorities were unable to provide details about the plane’s point of origin, its flight path or its destination.
The blaze was contained to a heavily timbered area and no structures were damaged.
Montez said several firefighters suffered high levels of carbon dioxide and had trouble breathing at the scene of the wreckage and were treated at the scene.
He said further details will be released as they become available.
A small plane crash sparked a wildfire near the 10,000 block of Lefthand Canyon Dr. An EVACUATION WARNING has been issued for the surrounding area, including the towns of Gold Hill and Ward. Take proactive measures and be prepared to evacuate. pic.twitter.com/H1peYr0aWh
— BoulderCountySheriff (@BldrCOSheriff) July 17, 2022
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