South Watkins Road Oil Well Fire

On June 5, 2021 at approximately 13:47 pm Bennett-Watkins Fire Rescue responded to a reported brush fire near S. Watkins Rd. north of E. Quincy Road with multiple callers reporting flames and a dark black smoke plume that could be seen as far south as Castle Rock. Dispatch updated that the fire was involving fracking equipment and not brush. Chief 42 advised Chief 92 that a ranger was on top of the reservoir and could see heavy flames and smoke. Brush 92 arrived on scene near Watkins Road and Yale Avenue on an oil service road, reported multiple pieces of equipment fully involved with evacuation in progress at an oil drilling site. At 14:00 Chief 92 requested an East I-70 Corridor automatic-aid agency tender response. Chief 42 arrived on assumed command, Chief 92 requested Chief 42 assume HazMat command. Aurora Battalion 4 arrived on scene and setup a unified command with Bennett Fire. Crews determined that 19 different hazardous chemicals could be involved and set up a 3 mile safety zone in case of an explosion. Firefighters were able to mitigate the hazard from the chemicals just after 19:00 and sent foam trailers in to smother the blaze. The fire was ruled under control about 19:45. Parts of Quincy and Watkins Roads were closed and aircraft were diverted from the area as part of the safety zone. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Units on Scene:

Bennett-Watkins Fire Rescue: Chief 91, Chief 92, Battalion Chief (Bureau) 91, HazMat 91, Quint 91, Brush Engine 91 (Cancelled), Tender 91, Engine 92, Medic 92, Tender 92, Brush 92, Fleet 91, Foam 92 & Foam94

Byers Fire Protection District: Medic 72 & Tender 71

Sable Altura Fire Rescue: Chief 42, Tender 41 & Medic 42

Strasburg Fire Protection District: Tender 81

Deer Trail Rural Fire Protection District: Chief 31

South Metro Fire Rescue: Battalion Chief 5, Safety 35, Medic 211, Hazmat 38 & Decon 17,

South Metro Fire Emergency Communications: IDT 2, IDT 11, & IDT 30

Aurora Fire Rescue: Battalion Chief 3, Battalion Chief 4, Engine 12, Engine 13, Engine 14, Engine 15, Engine 21(Training), Ladder 6, Ladder 13, Brush 13 & Tender 15

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Wildland Fire Team: Tender 1

Falck: Falck 5, Medic 101, Medic 109 & Medic 111

Arapahoe County Sheriff: Patrol, Community Service, Communications, Bomb Squad, Hazmat 10, & PIO