EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — The Sylvan Fire sparked on June 20 about 16 miles south of Eagle.
UPDATE (Aug. 22, 11 p.m.): As of Aug. 20, the fire is 90% contained. Crews continue to patrol and find occasional heat. All lines are holding, and there is still some interior smokes popping up.
UPDATE (Aug. 13, 12:00 p.m..): Crews continue to patrol and find occasional heat. All lines are holding, and there is still some interior smokes popping up.
Currently the fire is at 3,792 acres and 68% containment.
UPDATE (Aug. 6, 12:00 p.m..): People visiting Sylvan Lake State Park and other open areas near the Sylvan Fire should expect to see some smoke as firefighters continue to work pockets of fire activity on the southern side of the fire.
UPDATE (July 30, 1:00 p.m..): The areas remaining in the closure include the areas within the Sylvan Fire perimeter and several roads and trails leading into the burned area.
UPDATE (July 27, 8:20 a.m.): Some fire activity on the southern side. August 1 is the estimated containment date.
UPDATE (July 23, 11:45 a.m.): People visiting Sylvan Lake State Park and other open areas near the Sylvan Fire should expect to see some smoke as firefighters continue to work pockets of fire activity on the southern side of the fire. The public is urged to drive carefully because of firefighter activity and to stay out of the closed areas.
UPDATE (July 21, 9:45 a.m.): Sylvan Lake State Park reopened on July 13, visitors should expect to see smoke as firefighters continue to work pockets of fire activity on the southern side of the fire. Officials said the fire will remain at 68% containment due to the terrain. Closures include areas within the Sylvan Fire perimeter and several roads and trails leading into the burned area.
UPDATE (July 18, 4:26 p.m.): Sylvan Lake State Park reopened on July 13 and officials said the fire will remain at 68% containment due to the terrain. Firefighters cannot access the rugged area on the southern side of the fire and it is too dangerous for ground crews to attempt to build containment lines. The burned area as well as roads and trails that lead into it are closed.
UPDATE (July 16, 12:45 p.m.): Visitors to the Sylvan Lake area can expect to see smoke in the Sylvan Fire interior as firefighters continue to monitor and work hotspots along the perimeter of the fire. Expected in the next 24 hours: Hidden smokes may materialize with the continued warm and dry conditions. Winds will be downslope/downvalley 2-5 mph until 10 a.m., then north winds 4-8 mph. Occasional gusts up to 18 mph after 1:00 p.m. No growth is expected.
UPDATE (July 11, 10:40 p.m.): Winds remain gusty overnight. Expected in the next 24 hours: Hidden smokes may materialize with the continued warm and dry conditions. Winds will be downslope/downvalley 2-5 mph until 10 a.m., then north winds 4-8 mph. Occasional gusts up to 18 mph after 1:00 p.m. No growth is expected.
UPDATE (July 9, 8 a.m.) A local Type 4 incident commander took over responsibility of the fire last night, and there are no more planned updates unless the fire begins to spread again.
Currently the fire is at 3,792 acres and 68% containment. Warm weather and increased heat have lead to increased activity inside the fire perimeter. Smoke or flames may be visible from Forest Road 400 as individual trees flare up.
There are currently 58 total personnel including three fire modules and a light helicopter working to end the fire.
UPDATE (July 7, 9 a.m.) Logging equipment that was brought in to help clear containment lines has finished the work needed and helped improve containment to 68%.
Water bars have been brought in to help divert runoff in the containment lines and direct it to areas with more vegetation where it will be more easily absorbed.
There are currently 95 total personnel assigned to the Sylvan Fire, which sits at 3,792 acres.
UPDATE (July 5, 6:53 p.m.) The Sylvan Fire had limited activity again on Monday. Afternoon rain poured on the fire, which held at 3,792 acres while containment increased slightly to 68%.
Responders continue to release resources as they make progress holding, improving and monitoring containment lines.
UPDATE (July 4, 7:35 p.m.): The Sylvan Fire showed limited activity today as firefighters continued hold, improve, and monitor containment lines. Logging equipment is assisting with containment line construction east of Sylvan Lake. Sylvan Fire remains at 3,792 acres, and containment is at 65%.
A local Type 3 team assumed management of the Sylvan Fire last night at 7 p.m.. Resources currently assigned to the fire include 132 total personnel, including a light helicopter. We are continuing to release resources to home units or other incidents.
UPDATE (July 3, 11:00 p.m.): The fire has not grown in the last 24 hours and is not expected to much or at all in the next 24 hours.
UPDATE (July 2, 11:27 p.m.) The Sylvan Fire is 65% contained and remains at 3,792 acres.
UPDATE (July 2, 10 a.m.) The Sylvan Fire sits at 58% containment, having burned 3,792 acres since it was discovered on June 20.
Colorado State Patrol in Eagle County has ordered evacuations around Sylvan Lake State Park due to the wildfire. There is a temporary flight restriction in place over the Sylvan fire. This includes drones.
Minimal smoke is expected today and Friday in the Sylvan area. Remember, if you smell smoke, you are breathing smoke.
Pre-evacuation and evacuation information can be found at at the Eagle County Public Safety Information page. Pitkin County pre-evacuation and evacuation information can be found on the Pitkin County Emergency page.
You can visit the National Forest Lands homepage here and contact the Fire Information Office at 970-462-9625.
The Sylvan Fire is at 50% containment and burning 3,792 acres.
Firefighters are making progress on the Sylvan fire, now at 44% containment.
Crews continue to secure the fire perimeter with an additional fireline. A structure protection group is assessing structures east of the fire in Fulford and surrounding areas. The group is developing a protection plan for area agencies to be used in the future.
A little over 1/10th of an inch of rain fell on Tuesday, helping to subdue the flames. A warming trend begins this weekend, however, there are still chances of rain fall in the area.
The recent rains projected to remain in this weeks forecast have kept fire movement in the Sylvan Fire minimal as 27% containment is maintained. Acreage lost remains at 3,775 as crews continue to fight the blaze on multiple fronts.
In Branch I, a Rapid Extraction Module Support Team, which is responsible for evacuating injured firefighters from difficult terrain, has set up their station near Sylvan Lake. The fireline between their location and the powerline road is still being reinforced as that region of the fire continues to be stemmed.
In Branch II, on the southeastern portion of the fire, challenging terrain has made it too dangerous for firefighters to play a role, so a timber processor has been brought in to clear a path.
The inaccessible and steep areas have indirect firelines boxing it in along Mount Thomas Trail.
A Structure Protection Group has been sent into Fulford and the nearby areas to plan for any potential fire spread in that direction.
The fire is now 27% contained and remains at 3,775 acres. Rain is expected on Tuesday which will help with the smoldering of the blaze.
Sunday showers assisted crews in their efforts to suppress the Sylvan Fire but today’s forecast may not be as helpful as dryness becomes a more impactful factor.
Crews achieved 19% containment as of Monday morning after increasing the number of personnel to 361.
Fire spread in the region southeast of Sylvan Lake along Eagle-Thomasville Road has been entirely contained. Efforts to prevent further spread on the southeastern border have been increased near Mount Thomas Trail.
The potential for showers returns on Tuesday and is set to stay for the rest of the week.
Public Information Officers assigned to the #sylvanfire were busy posting information boards and taking fire updates and current maps to multiple businesses in nearby communities. Information boards have been placed at the following locations:
City Market in Eagle
Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District in Minturn
Costco in Gypsum
The fire is now burning 3,775 acres and 264 personnel are working on the blaze.
As of 9 a.m. Saturday, firefighters say although containment percentage remains at zero, it doesn’t mean good work is not being accomplished on the ground. A section of fireline is not called contained until fire supervisors are confident the fire will not cross it. More work needs to be done to fully secure and monitor the lines, but look for containment to start increasing in the coming days.
In ‘Branch I,’ the region north of the fire, efforts to contain the area southeast of Sylvan Lake are the leading priority for fire crews. They have been chasing fire movement that has crossed Thomasville Road. Preventative measures have been taken to further spread in that direction.
Fire crews in ‘Branch II,’ which sits to the south of the Sylvan Fire, are prepping direct firelines while they battle the portion of the fire that has moved south of Mount Thomas Trail.
Rainy conditions expected to run until late Sunday are giving crews a jump start on getting the area prepped, but thunderstorms are also present in the forecast.
@SylvanFireInformation will be hosting a virtual meeting on Facebook tonight at 6 p.m.
The White River National Forest has issued a closure order for the area around the Sylvan Fire for public and firefighter safety. A map of the closure is available in the map section. The closure includes the 400 (Eagle-Thomasville Road, the area south of Sylvan Lake, the Hardscrabble area, the FS 416 Road between Crooked Creek Pass and the Peter Estin Hut, and the FS 514 Red Table Mountain Road from Cottonwood Pass to Lime Park.
Firefighters say weather conditions were favorable on Wednesday as they continued fighting the Sylvan fire. A fire line was constructed around the 20-30 acres that crossed West Brush Creek Road on Tuesday. The new line also covers 100 acres of fire that crossed Powerline Road on Tuesday. That portion of the fire ended up getting as far as Sylvan Lake.
More resources have also arrived to help out with the fight. Around 195 firefighters are working to control the fire. Another helicopter is set to arrive tomorrow to assist the ground crews.
The fire grew a little bit but not by much on Wednesday. The most recent estimate that was taken on Wednesday morning shows the fire is covering 3,583 acres and crews are still trying to determine how much of it has been contained.
Firefighters today will work to hold the area of the fire that crossed Forest Road 400 (West Brush Creek Road), aided by two heavy helicopters and a light helicopter. Crews are scouting East Brush Creek Road for fireline opportunities as contingency.
Firefighers have burned in some fireline north and east of Crooked Creek Park as they work to keep the fire from moving farther south. Crews will also work to contain the heel of the fire on the north side, and people may see air tankers helping with that effort.
The fire is currently 3,583 acres. There is currently no containment estimate. The cause is under investigation but lightning is suspected.
The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team will assume management of the fire beginning tomorrow and will be based out of the Eagle Valley Middle School in Eagle. People should be aware of increased fire traffic in the downtown Eagle area.
A virtual community meeting will be held on the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at 6 p.m. tonight.
The fire has grown to 3,359 acres. An additional 60 firefighters arrived today, including a Hot Shot crew. Two heavy helicopters and a light helicopter dropped water. A VLAT (Very Large Air Tanker), LAT (Large Air Tanker) and two single-engine air-tankers dropped retardant.
According to the inciweb update, fire activity has picked up as the cloud cover has decreased. West winds are pushing the fire east.
Firefighters continue working to keep the Sylvan Fire within a defined area as they strengthen firelines and incorporate natural barriers such as aspen stands and rocky areas. Monday afternoon and evening the fire made a push to the south, putting up a large column of smoke as it burned in heavy timber. Retardant drops and natural barriers kept the fire from moving over Red Table Ridge and into the Fryingpan drainage. Keeping the fire north of Red Table Ridge continues to be a priority for firefighters.
New Mandatory and Pre-evacuation orders Issued
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for the areas of Hat Creek, Yeoman State Park, and Fulford. If you are in these areas you need to evacuate immediately.
Pre-evacuation orders are in place for all residents in the areas of Frost Creek, Salt Creek and Bruce Creek. This means that residents should be prepared to evacuate with little to no notice.
If you have immediate needs for relocating livestock please call 970-379-7731.
The fire grew to more than 2,600 acres on Tuesday morning.
Officials report the fire has burned 1,424 acres since it sparked on Sunday afternoon.
About 75 personnel are assigned to the fire along with a light and heavy helicopter.
The area surrounding the fire in White River National Forest has been closed and evacuated.
A virtual community briefing will be held tonight at 6 p.m. on the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
The Sylvan Fire has now grown to about 400 acres. Spruce and fir trees make up most of the fuel for the fire. The cause is believed to be lightning.
Sixty firefighters, four single-engine air-tankers and a light helicopter worked the Sylvan Fire on Sunday.
Firefighters have taken steps to protect structures at the state park. Other infrastructure at risk includes a major powerline in the burn area.
According to the White River National Forest Service, the fire is estimated at 90 acres and growing in lodgepole pine and other timber on the White River National Forest. It is being pushed by high winds and firefighters are reporting extreme fire behavior.
Eagle Valley Wildland said, “additional fire units from Vail Fire and Pitkin County are responding. A Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered. The Vail Valley Salvation Army will be providing food for first responders and Vail Public Safety Communications Center is sending the Mobile Command Unit with a dedicated dispatcher to assist with communications and evacuation notifications.”
Additional evacuations have been ordered for Hat Creek Rd and Peter Aspen Valley Hut.
Per Eagle Valley Wildland, Brush Creek Road is closed at MM 10. Please avoid the area to allow for evacuation traffic to exit and for emergency vehicles to enter.
In addition to Sylvan Lake State Park, Crooked Creek Pass and Yoeman Park, LEDE Reservoir area, and Hardscrabble have been evacuated as well. Sylvan Lake Road is closed.
The fire is being reported as 50 acres and is running, crowning, and spotting in continuous fuels.