Latest news with #SummitFire
CBS News
11-05-2025
- CBS News
Colorado police arrest suspect accused of starting Meadow Creek Fire in Frisco
One person has been arrested in connection with a wildfire that broke out in Colorado's High Country this weekend. On Saturday evening, the Frisco Police Department arrested a person they believe caused the Meadow Creek Fire, which burned around 6.3 acres of Town of Frisco open space. Authorities said they don't believe the person is from the area. The suspect reportedly remains in custody, and officials said the case will now go to the 5th Judicial District Attorney's Office. default Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District Summit County Dispatch received a 911 call around 5 p.m. Saturday to report the wildfire, which broke out on public land between Wildflower Lane, Meadow Drive, Whole Foods and I-70. The wildfire temporarily caused the closure of I-70 as crews worked to bring it under control. Roughly 30 firefighters from Summit Fire and Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District responded to keep the fire from spreading to the highway, the Whole Foods, and a nearby neighborhood. No injuries or structural damage were reported. Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District "The fire burned approximately 6.3 acres of Town of Frisco open space, which are largely part of the Meadow Creek conservation easement," said town officials. "This 10.88-acre conservation easement was designated in 2020 and includes wetlands with primarily willows and an adjacent riparian area and floodplain buffer."
CBS News
09-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
Veteran's service dog found and rescued after car crash in Colorado's high country
Bob, a 3-year-old Colorado veteran's service dog, was lost when his owner Will crashed his 4Runner not far from the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel during a treacherous trek through the mountains. A firefighter with Summit Fire and EMS reportedly watched the dog crawl out the broken front windshield and run off into the snow-covered hillside. That's when he did what a lot of people have done in Summit County in the last 5 years. "He called us," Summit Lost Pet Rescue volunteer Brandon Ciullo said. Summit Lost Pet Rescue is a nonprofit volunteer group that does exactly what their name says; help make sure pets lost in the mountains find their way home, no matter who lost them or how they were lost. It's not unusual that first responders know to call the team of dedicated everyday people who just want to get the pets home, even when Summit County animal control was already working the case, too. "They know that they can trust us," Ciullo said. "We've proven ourselves." So once the team was on the case, Ciullo, Melissa Davis and Chris Decker all sprung into action, trying to find Bob right after the crash, but finding no signs right away. Thankfully, CDOT crews were also aware of what was going on, and after SLPR left a camera along with materials from Bob's owner to help create a "scent station" should the dog be able to find his way back to the crash, crews spotted him the next day on the frozen hillside just outside the tunnels through one of their cameras. "One of the plow drivers actually saw the dog high up on a hill on the westbound side," Davis recalled. "He was just sitting there." Finding Bob was just the first step. Next, they had to get to him without him running off, which would have created a need for another search. "I was, you know, tossing the owner's shirt and blankets up in the air and he kept catching whiffs of it," Davis said. "We saw his nose literally pop up." Between Decker and Davis, the two worked to get Bob back down the mountain by inching closer to him, step by step, and finally reaching the dog after more than an hour of slow, spook-free progress. Bob was snatched up, healthy enough but cold, and taken down to his owner, Will, who was out of the hospital at that time. Their reunion was caught on camera as the two were reunited in Frisco. Will's wife, Linda Blackman-Lehman, said their family cannot say enough about SLPR, and the generosity that seems to come so naturally to the volunteers who keep the organization running. "They are exceptional. They are the kind of people who, when you get to thinking that there's nothing or nobody that's really good in the world left, you meet people like them and it changes your whole perspective," Blackman-Lehman said. "God blessed us with Brandon and Melissa and Chris." Not only did they go out of their way to get Bob checked by a local vet, but Blackman-Lehman said they also passed monetary support over to Will as well, to make sure he can get back to his family safely, with Bob in tow. Getting that dog back home meant everything to the couple, who said Bob and their other dog Lilly are a huge part of their lives, and take up a huge amount of space in their bed, too. "I get about eight inches on one side of the bed, Will will get about eight inches on the other side of the king these two get the rest of the bed," Blackman-Lehman said, laughing. It's a laugh she lets out freely, now that everyone is home safe, thanks to the first responders, medical crews, and the Summit Lost Pet Rescue. "I wish they had those everywhere." As for the volunteers, celebrating their fifth year working to reunite pets with owners (and having logged more than 1,000 successful rescues to date) Davis said it's more than a hobby, it's what drives them. "Once you do one rescue, you have to do more," Davis explained, sandwiched between fellow volunteers Ciullo and Decker. "I mean, the reunions are worth it, the tears of happiness ... you're saving a life." "Two!" Ciullo said, pipping up. "The dogs, and the owners." CBS can confirm all the people involved are very humble, and made sure to push glory off to their partners in getting these missions done. "We just would like to thank the entire Summit community and beyond," Davis said. "We couldn't do it without the support of our donors, our grantors, our volunteers, the inter-agencies, animal control for this rescue in particular, CDOT, Summit Fire and Passion for Paws."
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Seeing smoke? Pile burns combat pine beetle outbreak near Breckenridge
DENVER (KDVR) — It may have been a little smoky in the Distillery Hill area of Breckenridge on Tuesday as crews worked to complete pile burns and remove dead timber killed by the last pine-beetle outbreak. The burns are a collaboration between Summit Fire and EMS, the Breckenridge-based Red, White and Blue Fire agency, U.S. Forest Service, Summit County Open Space and Summit County Sheriff's Office, plus the county's environmental health department and some Americorps interns, all operating under Breckenridge's direction. Weiser testifies in support of legislation that would stop 'out-of-town billionaire's fence' The collaborative effort aims to rid the area of dead timber and 'hazardous fuels' that could contribute to forest fires. 'Because the wood has virtually no commercial value, burning it is the most efficient, most cost-effective way to clean up the forest,' Summit Fire and EMS posted on Facebook. 'The burn crew takes into account the minimum amount of snow on the ground to ensure that the fires don't spread outside the prescribed zone, as well as the day's weather conditions, paying particular attention to where the smoke is likely to go — hopefully up and away, to be diluted quickly.' The group is burning around 350 piles of dead timber, according to the Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District. According to the Colorado State Forest Service, mountain pine beetles are native to western North America. Infested trees' needles will typically turn a 'rust' color and begin dropping branches. Boring dust can also be found in bark crevices and on the ground next to the tree base for further evidence of the insects. 'We can't stress the importance of treatments like this in protecting our communities from the risks related to wildfires,' the fire protection district stated on Facebook. The agency also reminded residents to focus on the first five feet surrounding their homes. The first step is to clear any dead material from your lot, and tell neighbors. The agency also has a Wildfire and Community Preparedness Division that can be consulted on home safety, and provide free tools on loan to get the job done. Email mitigation@ for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
