Firefighters between Summit and Eagle counties were called to six confirmed wildfires in just under 72 hours over the weekend, as thunderstorms battered the high country and Memorial Day visitors filled up campgrounds.
It started on Friday when smoke was spotted just south of Summit Cove. Firefighters found and quickly extinguished a small blaze burning in dead timber near the Soda Creek Trail. It was likely caused by people.
On Saturday in Dillon Valley a second small fire was reported burning through willows near Straight Creek and the Orofino Condos. It was quickly contained with help from a few bystanders, who were throwing buckets of water on the flames. Again, people are the likely culprit.
“This was the second wildfire in as many days and the third in two weeks for us,” Summit Fire & EMS writes on Facebook. “We cannot stress enough the responsibility that we all have up here in the high country to be careful with all sources of flames, all year. We do not want to experience a catastrophe with lost homes and potentially even lost lives.”
On Sunday, four reported fires were sparked by afternoon thunderstorms in the Gypsum area.
One was burning in a neighborhood south of Costco and Eagle County airport. Firefighters were there all night. A second charred a structure outside of Wolcott before it was snuffed.
Two fires are still smoldering this morning north of Gypsum. Fire crews monitored both overnight because they were difficult to access. Crew are in the field this morning to assess and contain both.