Summer 2018 has been extraordinarily dry. During a stage 2 fire restriction period, no smoking was permitted outside, no campfires and even no fireworks on the Fourth of July!
In spite of all the heightened awareness, human-caused wildland fires repeatedly happen.
On Saturday, September 29th, just as I was exiting the highway to catch up at work, I noticed a plume of smoke ahead rising over the far end of Minturn. This one sure seemed too close to where our 3-story maroon southwestern-styled office building is located.
The Two Elk Fire started in grasses and shrubs and then made a wind-driven run up along the side of the ridge to the east of the shooting range. The fire started burning in sage, grass, and mixed conifer with some an occasional single-tree torching up. Erratic winds did not make it any easier.
Several other regional human-caused forest fires have torched thousands of acres in Colorado. Glimpses of a black and barren facade from our deck struck me hard even before anything happened.
Thank goodness the flashes of fear dimmed immediately when I heard several blaring signals of emergency responders rushing to the scene. Within a short time frame, a coordinated effort by Interagency engines, air resources, and crews responded swiftly to a fire burning adjacent to the Minturn Shooting Range/Two Elk Shooting Area. Smoke was visible from eastbound I-70 Highway and Highway 24.
The blaze was burning in very steep terrain beneath multiple rock outcroppings. Safe access to tackle the fire in these areas were only possible utilizing air power with water bucket drop and fire retardant.
A Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT), These aircraft are AT-802F models and have Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F engines with an added performance component that affords them to carry 800 gallons of retardant.
Hi-Key Heli
The Skycrane Helitanker water tanks can hold up to 2,600 gallons (9,750 liters) of water and can quickly be refilled within 45 seconds in as little as 18 inches of water.
Ground crews established hand line and hose line on the lower/western edge of the fire as well as up the southern and northern flanks of the fire.
On day two the Hotshot crew focused their suppression actions in some of the more technical terrains on the flanks of the fire working their way up the top of Cougar Ridge. Additional ground crews focused on holding, securing, and mopping-up hand line already in place from the previous day’s efforts.
This fire could have easily spread all of Gilman, Redcliff, beyond Minturn and Vail if not for the outstanding work by the Wildfire Responders.
With coordinated response, remarkable air power, and a tenacious ground crew, the Two Elk Fire remained at 26.5 acres without any loss of lives, damage to structures or infrastructure on the second and final day of this unparalleled response.
THANK YOU ALL! 🙏🏽
Photos were taken by Raj Manickam from the deck roof of SteamMaster’s Corporate 3-story office building at 1901 Main Street, in Minturn. Some photos were taken behind the building where water was collected at a nearby pond.
Note from District Ranger
“Thanks to swift response by local cooperators and interagency firefighters, the Two Elk Fire is expected to be at 100% containment by this afternoon,” said Rick Truex, acting District Ranger. “We would like to thank the local community and our partners for all of their support over the weekend.”
Special thanks to Eagle River Fire Protection District, Eagle County Sheriff, Vail Fire and Emergency Services, Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District, Gypsum Fire Protection District, Eagle County Paramedics, Summit Fire Authority, Aspen Fire Protection District, Basalt and Rural Fire Protection District, Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District, Vail Resorts, Town of Minturn, and Town of Vail for support throughout the response.
Note: Source from USDA - Forest Service | Vail Daily | Eagle River Fire Protection District
Credits:
©️Raj Manickam Source: USDA Forest Service Vail Daily Eagle River Fire Protection District