Tenderfoot2 Fire: Wildfire near Dillon CO

Jack Queen‏ @jackqueen_ 5 minutes ago
The #wildfire near Dillon is 5 acres, all USFS land. Aircraft en route to drop flame retardant, per Sheriff #cofire

Jack Queen‏ @jackqueen_ 13 minutes ago
Sheriff: No evacuations for #wildfire near Dillon, FF's are surrounding blaze but "could change any minute" #cofire

Jack Queen‏ @jackqueen_ 18 minutes ago
Scanner traffic indicates flames now going up mountainside "pretty quick" #cofire

Jack Queen‏ @jackqueen_ 19 minutes ago
Another pic of the #wildfire near Dillon #cofire


Jack Queen‏ @jackqueen_ 24 minutes ago
Wildfire near Dillon. Firefighters are on scene and asking ppl not to report smoke. More info soon

Good morning from the #Tenderfoot2 Fire near Dillon. Overnight fire activity was light, and crews are hitting the fire lines already, with air attack to come. We're expecting red-flag warning winds starting late in the morning, so the hope is to make good progress on containing the fire beforehand. Photo is of LDFR Firefighter Steven Wantuck last night taken by LDFR Medic Michael Brett Waxler. Watch this space for information as it becomes available.


We're bringing in the cavalry to help out on the #Tenderfoot2 Fire today, as the U.S. Forest Service takes over command of the fire. Lot of resources at risk: A significant power line and microwave communcations repeater are directly threatened by the fire, and, should it make a big run, the neighborhoods of Corinthian Hills and Oro Grande could be affected. Additionally, if it gets to the top of Tenderfoot, it could affect the Town of Dillon's watershed in Straight Creek -- plus there's an interstate highway there. This dawn photo was taken by our friend Tracy LeClair of Eagle River Fire, who is joining our public-information team today.


The #Tenderfoot2 Fire has burned an estimated 25 acres in sage and heavy timber, including signficant amounts of dead-standing lodgepole pines. The cause remains under investigation. The U.S. Forest Service officially will be closing trails in the area between the Straight Creek road and Frey Gulch. For your safety, please avoid the area.


From the morning briefing at the #Tenderfoot2 Fire: Among the resources that have been requested or are en route or on scene so far, in addition to LDFR crews: Three U.S. Forest Service engine crews, a 20-person hand crew from Rifle and an initial attack hand crew from the Upper Colorado River. Two additional hand crews and four additional engines also have been requested. In the air, we'll have two heavy tankers dropping slurry and two helicopters ferrying buckets of water from the Dillon Reservoir.


Friend of Lake Dillon Fire Leslie Belvo Wagner took this stellar shot of the #Tenderfoot2 Fire from her home in Dillon. (OK, full disclosure: Her husband, Kelly, is the battalion chief who has been serving as incident commander on this fire, and she works in administration of the joint High Country [fire] Training Center!)

Official update from the #Tenderfoot2 Fire team. Of note: The cause of the fire appears to be a failed insulator on the power line, which sent sparks into the grass. Also, 120 firefighters remain on scene to deal with any hot spots and begin the mop up. Aircraft are on standby, although you may see helicopter bucket drops if necessary. Press Contact: Marcia Gilles (970) 306-8689

Fire Information:
inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5620/
Facebook: WhiteRiverNF or Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue
Twitter: @WhiteRiverNews or @lakedillonfire
#Tenderfoot2

Firefighters make good progress on Tenderfoot 2 Fire near Dillon

Dillon, Colo. – Sept. 20, 2017 - Firefighters made good progress on the Tenderfoot 2 Fire east of Dillon yesterday and are reporting 50 percent containment. Incident Commander Eric White, of the Upper Colorado River Fire Management Unit, reported at Wednesday morning’s briefing that crews were successful in holding the fire to the existing footprint, with no growth during the day, despite windy conditions with gusts up to 50 mph.

Air operations will continue to assist ground crews this morning as necessary in extending the containment line; more work will also be done to extinguish remaining hot spots. The burn area remains at an estimated 25 acres in sage and heavy timber, including significant amounts of dead-standing beetle-killed lodgepole pine.

Upon official investigation, the fire has been determined to be caused by sparks from a blown insulator cap on a power line that subsequently ignited nearby grasses and burned upslope.

The Oro Grande and Tenderfoot Mountain trails remain closed, and the public is requested to avoid the Tenderfoot Mountain area between Straight Creek Road and Frey Gulch Road for safety reasons. An official White River National Forest closure order is in place for this area. Hot spots still remain, and the danger of falling trees are an ongoing concern, especially during windy conditions.

The Tenderfoot 2 fire initially was reported at approximately 5 p.m. on Monday. The fire is not yet fully contained, and it may continue to burn for days or weeks, so residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and be ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Approximately 120 firefighters remain working the fire to ensure that all hot spots are extinguished and to respond if expected windy conditions today contribute to renewed fire activity, including the possibility of spot fires and even major flare-ups.

“The key here is relationships,” said White River National Forest, Dillon District Ranger Bill Jackson. “It’s important to recognize the high level of interagency coordination, cooperation and communication that we have here in Summit County. As we have seen on this fire, and during past fires, the local engagement and the emergency response is phenomenal.”

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place around the fire to allow air operations to proceed safely. Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause aircraft to be grounded. The public is reminded that “if you fly, we can’t!” The Upper Colorado River (UCR) Fire Management Unit is a Service First Fire program comprised of employees from the White River National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management.

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inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5620/

All roads and trails between Straight Creek Road and Frey Gulch Road are closed. The entire Tenderfoot trail system is closed.