At least one dead in South Dakota wildfire plane crash

[mhm]

At least one person has died after a US military cargo plane crashed while battling a wildfire in South Dakota.

Three others in the six-person crew were taken to hospital, officials said. Other team members are feared dead.

Meanwhile, some evacuation orders were lifted in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where officials said a wildfire was 55% contained after scorching 346 homes.

Wildfires are raging across the region in the states of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Montana.

The crash victim was named as Lt Col Paul Mikeal, whose family said they were told about his death on Monday morning, the Associated Press news agency reported.

The 42-year-old Lt Col Mikeal was a veteran pilot who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was a married father of two.
Full Story
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18683243

Thoughts with the family.

[Smudger98]

Also..
http://www.wbtv.com/story/18932172/nc-national-guard-plane-crashes-while-fighting-colorado-wildfires

[viking9]

Firefighting C-130s placed on operational hold

In what officials describe as "a prudent measure," all military C-130 aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System have been placed on operational hold after one of the aircraft crashed Sunday, July 1.

http://www.defencetalk.com/firefighting-c-130s-placed-on-operational-hold-43561/