Buffalo Mountain Fire in Summit County

Buffalo Mountain Fire update from the Summit County Emergency Blog - 2:50 p.m., Tuesday, June 12

Posted on June 12, 2018 at 3:02 PM by Julie Sutor
As of 2 p.m., the following resources are responding to the fire:

- 50 firefighters on the ground, and 100 additional en route
- 1 heavy air tanker
- 1 Type III helicopter
- 1 air attack plane

The following resources are on order:
- 3 heavy air tankers
- 2 large air tankers
- 2 Type II helicopters

The evacuation area (Mesa Cortina and Wildernest above 20 Grand Rd.) contains approximately 1,384 residences. The pre-evacuation area (Mesa Cortina and Wildernest below 20 Grand Rd.) contains an estimated 1,160 residences.

There will be a media briefing at 4 p.m. at the Silverthorne Recreation Center. The briefing will be for credentialed media only.

We will hold a community meeting open to members of the public at 6 p.m. at Silverthorne Town Hall.

At both events, agencies will provide updates on the fire and the response effort.

The Buffalo Mountain Fire is now 91 acres in size.

Do NOT fly drones over the fire.

Responding agencies include: Summit Fire & EMS, Summit County Sheriff's Office, Silverthorne PD, Dillon PD, White River National Forest, Frisco PD, Red White and Blue Fire, Breckenridge PD, Summit County Ambulance Service, Summit County Animal Control, Summit County Office of Emergency Management.

The following trails have been closed:
- North Tenmile
- Meadow Creek
- Salt Lick
- Buffalo Mountain
- Lilly Pad Lake
- Mesa Cortina
- Willow Brook
- Gore Trail at Red Buffalo Pass


Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect, per resolution by the Summit County Board of County Commissioners, Tuesday, June 12. The resolution was scheduled on the board's Tuesday regular meeting agenda prior to the report of the fire.

Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke Issued for central Summit County
Issued at 12:30 PM MDT, Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Affected Area: central portions of Summit County. Locations include, but are not limited to, Silverthorne, Frisco and Dillon.

Advisory in Effect: 12:30 PM MDT, Tuesday, June 12, 2018 to 9:00 AM MDT, Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

Public Health Recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.

Outlook: Smoke from the Buffalo Mountain Fire will move to the east and northeast through Tuesday evening, bringing periods of moderate to heavy smoke to Silverthorne and areas surrounding Dillon Reservoir. The wind will decrease late Tuesday night and smoke will begin to drain downhill into Dillon Reservoir. This will bring periods of moderate to heavy smoke to Silverthorne, Frisco and Dillon Wednesday morning.

For the latest Smoke Outlook, visit:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/addendum.aspx#smoke

For more information about smoke and your health, visit:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/wildfire.aspx

For the latest Colorado statewide air quality conditions, forecasts, and advisories, visit:
www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

Air Quality Info on Social Media:
www.facebook.com/cdphe.apcd
twitter.com/cdpheapcd

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The evacuation shelter has changed: The new evacuation shelter is Silverthorne Recreation Center, 430 Rainbow Drive. It is currently open for evacuees.

Silverthorne Elementary is NOT serving as a shelter at this time.

If you have questions, call the Public Information Hotline: 970-668-9730.

If you need assistance with pets, please call Animal Control Evacuation Hotline 970-668-4143.

From Summit County Fire & EMS:

Good news: The Summit County Sheriff just announced that the evacuation order will be lifted at 3 p.m. today for upper Mesa Cortina and Wildernest. Residents in those areas will need to present ID at the checkpoints, and they will remain on PRE-EVACUATION NOTICE, which means please -- please -- remain packed and ready to go. This still is a live, uncontrolled fire. A couple of other housekeeping items (literally): Do NOT eat food in your fridge if your power was off. Dumpsters will be provided specifically for food waste that will be hauled off each evening to keep from attracting bears. Also, if you now live in a "little pink house," as John Cougar Mellancamp sang, you can wash off the slurry/fire retardant gently, but don't use a power washer. It is not harmful to pets.

Live video from Reporter Matt Kroschel of how close the fire got to some condos: www.facebook.com/matt.kroschel/videos/2141560825872024/