Ptarmigan Fire: Mandatory Evacuations To Be Lifted Thursday Morning
SILVERTHORNE, Colo. (CBS4) - Mandatory evacuations of the Hamilton Creek and Angler Mountain subdivisions will be lifted at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Summit County Sheriff Jamie FitzSimons announced Wednesday night. The Ptarmigan Fire remains active on Wednesday despite rainfall in the area. The fire did not significantly grow overnight.
Those residents are now under pre-evacuation status. Homes previously under pre-evacuation status will remain until further notice.
Only those with credentials will be allowed back to their homes. Residents can be credentialed at Silverthorne Town Hall at 601 Center Circle.
Operations will focus on structure protection and creating a fireline. According to the Forest Service, this area of forest contains many standing dead trees, which create a significant hazard for crews working on the ground. Aircraft will assist with fire operations.
The Ptarmigan Fire is estimated to be 85-100 acres with no containment. The cause is under investigation, however, the fire appears to have started near the Ptarmigan Trail. There was no lightning reported in the area at the time.
Moderate showers on Wednesday helped firefighters get a better look at the fire from above. Fire managers say the risk to firefighters on the ground has decreased, allowing them to fight the fire on foot.
However, they say, they will be taking the fight slowly to avoid any injury to firefighters.
"Trees kill firefighters every year," one manager said. Helicopters will continue to help.
Officials believe the firefight to last for a few more weeks.
There will be a public briefing at the Silverthorne Town Hall, 601 Center Circle, Silverthorne, CO 80498, at 11 a.m. and again at 6 p.m. The meeting will be livestreamed on Facebook Live on the Summit County Government's Facebook page.
The most current information is available: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7857/, the White River National Forest Facebook page @WhiteRiverNF, or call the Ptarmigan Fire Hotline at 970-668-9700.
There are several agencies fighting the fire, including the U.S. Forest Service, Summit Fire & EMS, Clear Creek Fire, Eagle River Fire, East Grand Fire, Grand Fire, Grand Lake Fire, Greater Eagle Fire, Vail Fire and Leadville/Lake County Fire Rescue, under the Mountain Area Mutual Aid agreement.
