Brush fire off I-70 between Eagle and Wolcott likely caused by dragging chains, officials say | VailDaily.com

News News | Jul 15, 2024

A brush fire near Interstate 70 caused a single-lane closure between Eagle and Wolcott at mile marker 151 on Sunday morning.

Officials are “not 100% sure” of what caused the fire, but believe it was likely caused by safety chains dragging on the road and creating sparks that ignited the brush, according to Tim Sander, battalion chief with the Greater Eagle Fire Protection District.

The fire consisted of two nearby but separate burning areas, each approximately 10 by 20 feet in size. Flames were not moving rapidly in either location. Crews first applied water to extinguish the flames, and then took preventative steps, including saw work to cut some of the brush out, as well as digging a line around the burn areas so that the fire would not go any further.

While there were no obvious signs of ignition, the fire “looked as if it would be one that would be started by chains,” Sander said. “When we get those spots that are a couple hundred yards apart, that’s usually what the cause is.”

The fire response included an engine from Greater Eagle Fire Protection District, an engine from Gypsum Fire Protection Service, an engine from the U.S. Forest Service, and a responder from the Eagle Valley Wildland team. The response was typical for a confirmed fire, with two to three engines going to the scene, according to Sander.

To avoid starting a fire in a similar way, those using safety chains to pull trailers, campers and other items should be extra vigilant that the chains are pulled tight.

“When you’re pulling trailers, make sure that your safety chains are tight enough that they don’t drag,” Sander said. “If the safety chains on your camper or your trailer are dragging on the highway, they spark, and when things get as dry as they are, the one little spark can cause the fire to take off like that.”

Recent dry conditions have raised fire concerns in Eagle County. On Friday, Glenwood Canyon, in neighboring Garfield County, closed briefly for a fire in the I-70 median.

On Sunday, officials issued a red flag warning from noon to 9 p.m., implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions for all of Eagle County. According to the EC alert sent out on Sunday morning, “critical wildfire weather conditions” existed due to the possibility of wildfire triggered by lightning with anticipated dry thunderstorms and erratic winds.

A red flag warning means that certain factors have combined that make fires more likely to ignite, and to spread more rapidly if they do ignite. “That’s usually because of higher winds, hotter temperatures, drier fuel moistures, things like that,” Sander said.

“With a red flag warning, make sure you’re even more cautious with anything that you would do that could cause any kind of a fire,” Sander said.

The following activities are prohibited under Stage 1 fire restrictions:

For more information on fire restrictions in Eagle County, visit EagleCounty.us.

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