Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue Saves Wildernest Condo Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue Saves Wildernest Condo Building With Quick Early Morning Response

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - Summit County, CO

First thing this morning, around 07:10 am, Lake Dillon Fire Rescue responded to a fire at the Aspen Shadows Condominiums complex at 8019 Ryan Gulch Road in Wildernest. Evacuating neighbors’ reports of smoke from the first floor unit of Building 4 in the Aspen Shadows complex prompted 9-1-1 Dispatch to deploy emergency responders.

Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue, supported by Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District, Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Summit County Ambulance Service arrived on-site within minutes to find black smoke pushing from the first floor unit in Building 4. Lake Dillon’s Engine 8 fire crew initiated fire attack by forcing entry to the unit and found a mattress on fire in the first floor bedroom. Other units were deployed for search and rescue, roof ventilation and fire attack support. Firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire, confirm no one was in the unit and were able to ensure all building occupants were evacuated safely. In total, around 25 emergency responders responded to the alarm.

The hydrant access necessitated the closure of Ryan Gulch Road in both directions for a short period during fire response activities. Sheriff’s Office Deputies managed traffic flow and were able to return the road to normal service after hydrant access was no longer necessary.

"The speed of the initial attack saved the adjoining units," noted Lake Dillon Fire Chief Dave Parmley. Firefighters were able to work through access difficulties posed by limited space immediately adjacent to the building for response vehicles, quickly tapped hydrants across Ryan Gulch Road from the property and get on the fire. As a result, their speed prevented all but minimal smoke from spreading to the upper level units. Excel Energy assisted in restoring power to the building and, while the unit where the fire originated remains under investigation, all other occupants are being returned to their units.

The first floor unit where the fire originated was unoccupied. Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue personnel are in the process of contacting the owners, who recently vacated the unit.

"This is another example of how critical it is that the public assist us by being eyes and ears," noted Brandon Williams, Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue’s public information officer, adding that "the neighbors’ calls to 9-1-1 when something didn’t look right directly resulted in the speedy response that saved their properties."

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Press Contact:
Brandon Williams
(970) 513-4201

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