Sooke pilot dies in helicopter crash while battling Colorado wildfire

A veteran firefighting pilot from Sooke has died after the helicopter he was flying crashed into a Colorado reservoir while battling a wildfire.
The Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office identified the pilot as Nicholas Dale, 56, of Sooke. Dale was flying a Kaman K-1200 K-MAX helicopter conducting aerial suppression work on the Gold Mountain Fire when it crashed into Silver Jack Reservoir shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, July 12.
Dale was the aircraft’s only occupant. His body was recovered f