Storm King Fire Colorado 1994

[Axe52]

On July 6, 1994, the Colorado "Storm King fire" (also known as the South Canyon Fire), like most fires, started out as a routine fire but would result in the Line of Duty Deaths of 14 Firefighters.



It started small (about 50 acres), and wasn't growing rapidly. Initially it was low on the priority list for getting Firefighters deployed. Finally, a group of 52 firefighters and smoke jumpers were brought together to control the fire.

The Firefighters split up into two crews, most of them going below the fire to keep it from moving further towards Interstate 70. Out of nowhere, the wind completely changed direction, now gusting at speeds up to 47 miles per hour directly at the Firefighters. The wind created an incredible wall of flame, that was moving at them at a speed of about 30 feet per second. The fire was reaching 200 - 300 feet high. The fire was not only above them, but it had moved below them too. There was a short ridge between them and the fire, so they weren't aware that it was as close as it was. It was about 270 feet from them and when they started running, it took only 10 to 15 seconds for the fire to reach where they were standing before they even started running.

Unfortunately, there weren't that many burned areas for the Firefighters to find safety in, and although they had survival shelters, a lot of the Firefighters tried to run uphill, to a ridge line, to try to escape the heavy fire conditions. Unfortunately some Firefighters didn't make it in time. This fire that had started as a small, slow moving 50 acre fire, had just exploded into a 2,000 acre fire, killing 14 Firefighters operating from Colorado, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon.



We take time to remember Firefighters Kathi Beck, Tami Bickett, Scott Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Robert Browning, Doug Dunbar, Terri Hagen, Bonnie Holtby, Rob Johnson, Jon Kelso, Don Mackey, Roger Roth, James Thrash and Richard Tyler.

[jester1965]

Rest in peace, and know you are not forgotten.