Two killed in avalanche yesterday

December 29, 1:46 PMDenver Outdoor Adventure ExaminerTricia Hess

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Recent snows and winds have raised the risk of avalanches in parts of Colorado's mountains.

Authorities say a firefighter and a teenager were killed in Saturday's avalanche while snowmobiling near Grand Lake.

The Grand County sheriff said Sunday that 38-year-old Brian Kopp of Larkspur and 19-year-old Mark Goetz got stuck while riding their snowmobiles up a steep slope near Gravel Mountain with two other people on Saturday. According to sheriff Rod Johnson, the teenager's father, Chuck Goetz, rode his snowmobile above them to try to come down and help them.

An avalanche swept all three down the slope, burying Kopp and Mark Goetz. Chuck Goetz was able to get out and survived.

Kopp was a paramedic and firefighter with Centennial-based South Metro Fire Rescue.