The Quarry Fire ignited on July 31, 2024, near Ken Caryl and Littleton. Elk Creek, West Metro, South Metro, North Fork Fire, and Inter-Canyon fire departments quickly sprung into action and launched a coordinated effort to extinguish the fire and protect nearby neighborhoods under evacuation.
Sarah Sandberg, Red Cross board member, was one of those residents who needed to evacuate her home. “We woke the kids up out of bed, grabbed what we could, got the dogs in, and packed the cars,” Sarah recounts. “We made sure our neighbors were aware that we left.”
Sarah and her family were evacuated for nearly a week while the firefighters bravely battled the blaze. Sarah understood the challenges that awaited the responding fire departments. “There was an abundance of dry brush oak, several other fires at the time which limited resources, and incredibly challenging terrain – including areas called rattlesnake gulch for good reason.”
Firefighters from Elk Creek, West Metro, South Metro, North Fork Fire, and Inter-Canyon fire departments worked together, in grueling conditions, to tackle the tough terrain. The steep, rocky slopes meant access was limited for heavy machinery, forcing firefighters to rely on hand tools and aerial support.
After eight grueling days, the fire, which had consumed nearly 580 acres, was contained without any loss of structures.
“I think it can be easy to discount a fire that doesn’t burn a building down, but in this case – that fact says more about our firefighters than the fire,” Sarah explains. “This was a raging inferno in terribly compounding conditions. These firefighters weren’t just heroic, they were miracle-workers.”
The exceptional teamwork and coordination displayed by the firefighters and their heroic efforts without a doubt played a pivotal role in preventing the fire from spreading into communities such as Sarah’s.
“We owe them a debt that cannot be repaid,” Sarah says. “Words cannot express the gratitude I had walking back into my home knowing that others risked life and limb to protect our little corner of the world.”
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