Structure Fire - 07/14/09 - Bayfield, CO

On July 14, 2009 at approximately 9:20 p.m. Upper Pine firefighters were dispatched to a report of a structure fire at 23486 County Road 501. The fire occurred in an approximately 100 foot by 100 foot occupied vacation cabin located on the property of the Wilderness Trails Ranch. The first arriving engine encountered a well involved building, with a motor vehicle and trees as an immediate exposure.

The fire occurred in the far northern reaches of the Upper Pine Fire District, and units faced some typical rural firefighting challenges on this incident. Firefighters were confronted with an extended response time, a narrow and windy access road leading to the scene, crossing a one-lane bridge, no fixed water supply on-site and downed power lines outside of the fire building. Fire conditions dictated a defensive fire attack and a water tender shuttle was initiated to supply the attack lines.

These actions resulted in the blaze being held to the building of origin. One of the cabin occupants was transported to Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Upper Pine Fire District.