Waterton Canyon Lightning Strike Fire
Waterton Canyon Fire
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
At 12:42 on June 25, 2019, South Metro Fire Rescue and West Metro Fire Rescue were dispatched to reports of a brush fire in the area of Waterton Canyon after a lightning strike. Smoke was visible on a ridgetop from several miles away, prompting a request for additional units. West Metro Company 15 started recon from Dante Drive in the neighborhood while South Metro Brush 19 checked Caretaker Road. West Metro District 3 and Lockheed Martin Emergency Services set up a unified command post on the Lockheed property with a clear view of the fire scene. SMFR Battalion 1, USFS Division 11, Douglas OEM, Douglas County Sheriff and Jefferson County Sheriff also gathered there coordination. With radio communication challenges MetCom IDT set up at the command post and used a tactical gateway to patch 800 and VHF radio channels. Due to the location of the fire (on the south edge of Waterton Canyon in Douglas County) no structure protection or residential evacuations were needed. Denver Water Department closed the trail and evacuated pedestrians to the parking lot. Brush 19 identified a hike-in route from Caretaker Road and used flagging to mark their path on the way up. Douglas County’s exclusive use helicopter, “Zero Six Gulf” made numerous water drops on the fire and refilled on the Lockheed property less than a mile from the command post. Monument Helitack was also on scene but was not needed for water drops after the flanks were quickly controlled by 06G. Due to the arduous task hiking up to the fire line for mop up, command ordered a strike team for personnel. The Douglas/Elbert Team was mobilized and responded as the closest resource group. By sunset all firefighters withdrew from the fire which is estimated at 3.5 acres. Story / Information provided by South Metro Fire Rescue.
Units on Scene:
West Metro: District Chief 3, SAM 1, Engine 15, Brush 15, Brush 13, Engine 9, Brush 9 & PIO
South Metro: Battalion Chief 1, Safety 35, Brush 19, Brush Engine 40, Engine 16, Medic 16 & PIO 10
MetCom: IDT2 & IDT11
Fairmount Fire Protection District: Tender 32
Castle Rock Fire Rescue: Battalion Chief 151 & Brush 154
Douglas County Office of Emergency Management: OEM15 & Helicopter N1206G
Elizabeth Fire Rescue: Brush 271
Franktown Fire Protection District: Brush 184
Larkspur Fire Protection District: Brush 161
Rattlesnake Fire Protection District: Brush 251
Untied States Forest Service: Division 11, Battalion Chief 11, Engine 6111, Engine 6112
Monument Helitack N3500MW
Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control: Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA)
Jefferson County Fire Management
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue
Photo courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue