Wildland Fire behind Summit High School

Friday, October 14, 2005 - Farmers Korner, CO

At 2:39 pm, Summit County Dispatch received a call of a wildland fire behind the Summit High School. The fire quickly spread to 3 - 4 acres, threatening approximately 50 homes. More than 30 firefighters from Red, White and Blue, Lake Dillon, and Copper Mountain fire districts were on scene. Law enforcement officers from all over Summit County assisted the firefighters. Summit County’s Incident Management Team (IMT) was mobilized for the incident. Local and Federal Forest Service crews responded to the fire as well a slurry bomber which dropped 2 loads of fire retardant. Mutual aid came from as far away as Glenwood Springs and Eagle County.

Highway 9 was closed initially southbound at the Frisco Nordic Center, and eventually closed in both directions, allowing access between Frisco and Breckenridge on Swan Mountain Road. Summit County Dispatch sent a reverse 911 call to the homes that were most immediately in danger to notify homeowners of the threat of the fire. All evacuees were sent to Summit Middle School where the Red Cross was setting up a shelter. Summit High School evacuated approximately 800 students. Five homes were considered in immediate threat, with fire surrounding them. One house was saved at the last minute by combined efforts of Summit County fire departments, US Forest Service and the slurry bomber.

Twelve to fifteen acres were burned. The fire was approximately 80 percent contained by nightfall. Evacuees were allowed back in their homes at 7:00 pm. Highway 9 reopened in both directions at the same time.

Thirty Firefighters and 4 fire engines of Summit County and the US Forest Service are still on scene today. The primary focus is ensuring public safety by working on the containment line around the fire. Once the containment line is complete, firefighters will enter the interior of the fire and continue with the extinguishment efforts. The greatest safety concern at this time is the standing dead trees. Firefighters have brought in saw teams to cut down the trees. At this time the fire is still 80 percent contained, with the hopes of full containment by nightfall.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by local and US Forest Service fire investigators.

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Press Contact:
Capt. Kim Scott, PIO
cell: 970.485.4374
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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