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Sylvan Fire

Sylvan Fire was discovered at about 3:15 p.m. on June 20, 2021. The cause is under investigation. The fire is in Eagle County on the White River National Forest about 16 miles south of the town of Eagle, CO. A Type 3 Incident Management Team of local forces was assembled to perform extended attack on the fire, with the objective of full suppression. When the fire made a run during hot windy weather on June 22, a Type I Incident Management Team was ordered. That team arrived and assumed command of the fire at 6 a.m. on June 24. Many Federal, State, and Local government agencies as well as organizations and businesses are cooperating to make progress on the fire. Their progress will be documented in daily updates on this InciWeb page and on the Sylvan Fire Information Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SylvanFireInformation). Though this is a full suppression fire, because of the steep terrain, fuel types, and expected weather, Sylvan Fire could be a long duration incident. Our intent is to keep you fully informed on the fire’s activities and our suppression efforts as the incident progresses.

For the latest information about pre-evacuation or evacuation notices, visit www.ecemergency.org for Eagle County and www.pitkinemergency.org for Pitkin County. For more information about wildfire smoke visit https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires

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 maps tab. 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.  

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Stage 2 Fire Restictions

Garfield County, Eagle County, Pitkin County and the Bureua Of Land Managment have all gone to Stage 2 Firer Resrtictions

Fire restrictions are implemented based on specific criteria to including the moisture content of vegetation, weather outlooks, human risk factors and firefighting resource availability.

With increasingly dry vegetation, severe drought conditions, and Fourth of July celebrations approaching, the danger for human-caused wildfires increases even more

WHAT STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS MEAN IN 

  1. Use of fireworks – Not permitted

  2. Burn Permits (General) – No Burn Permits will be issued. All previously-issued burn permits are cancelled.

  3. Cooking Fires – Use caution and keep attended.  Cooking devices must be clean (including gas cylinder) and in proper working order.

    1. Gas Grills – No permit required. 

    2. Charcoal and other Solid Fuel Grills & Cookers – No permit required in Developed Areas only.   

    3. In Undeveloped Areas, a permit from the local fire department may be required.

  4. Smoking – Open Smoking allowed in Developed Areas. 

    1. In Undeveloped Areas, allowed only in an enclosed vehicle or building.

  5. Welding and Spark-emitting cutting (Hot Work) – Developed area: Use extreme caution and take preventative measures as necessary.

    1. Undeveloped area: Industrial use only. A permit from the local fire department may be required.  Must be in a cleared area at least 10 feet in diameter with a designated lookout.  Must have Class A fire extinguishing capabilities readily available.

  6. Operating of internal combustion engine-powered equipment such as Chain Saws, hand-held tools, or generators without a spark-arresting device is prohibited.   If described equipment does have a spark arresting device, you must have Class A fire extinguishing capabilities readily available, and round-point shovel (36″ length minimum) shall be readily available for use.

  7. Other internal combustion engine-powered equipment, such as tractors and mowers: Operate with extreme caution paying special attention in areas subject to extreme conditions that may be susceptible to ignition (dry weeds and grasses, etc.). 

  8. Use of explosives, explosive targets and steel or tracer bullets – Not permitted

  9. Use of firearms – Steel jacket/core bullets (Armor Piercing) and tracer bullets are expressly prohibited.  It is the responsibility of each independent range to ensure safe fire conditions at all times the range is in use.  This includes: mitigating fuels that may potentially catch fire; monitoring downrange conditions/impacts; maintaining the ability to access and rapidly extinguish fires; notifying the local fire department immediately in the event of a fire of any size. Keeping a usable fire-extinguishing application method on hand is strongly recommended. 

    1. If shooting at an unattended range – including those on public and private property – the responsibility for ensuring safe fire conditions falls on the independent shooter.

By Definition:

A “Developed Area” is an area, whether within city limits or rural, that is groomed, manicured and or watered, where grasses, brush and trees are regularly attended to by landowner.  This includes residential and business areas, improved recreational areas, parks and other common areas.

“Undeveloped Areas” are lands that are not groomed, manicured, or watered; where grasses, brush and trees have been allowed to grow in a natural environment. This includes green belts that are not landscaped or manicured, open space lands, non-manicured parklands, and other areas where the fire hazard presented by the vegetation is determined by the authority having jurisdiction or designee to be an undue wildland fire hazard. 

Stage 2 fire restrictions begin Friday June 25, 2021

SYLVAN FIRE

Sylvan Fire was discovered at about 3:15 p.m. on June 20, 2021. The cause is under investigation. The fire is in Eagle County on the White River National Forest about 16 miles south of the town of Eagle, CO. A Type 3 Incident Management Team of local forces was assembled to perform extended attack on the fire, with the objective of full suppression. When the fire made a run during hot windy weather on June 22, a Type I Incident Management Team was ordered. That team arrived and assumed command of the fire at 6 a.m. on June 24. Many Federal, State, and Local government agencies as well as organizations and businesses are cooperating to make progress on the fire. Their progress will be documented in daily updates on this InciWeb page and on the Sylvan Fire Information Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SylvanFireInformation). Though this is a full suppression fire, because of the steep terrain, fuel types, and expected weather, Sylvan Fire could be a long duration incident. Our intent is to keep you fully informed on the fire’s activities and our suppression efforts as the incident progresses.

For the latest information about pre-evacuation or evacuation notices, visit www.ecemergency.org for Eagle County and www.pitkinemergency.org for Pitkin County. For more information about wildfire smoke visit https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires

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 maps tab. 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.  

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