Sylvan Fire grows to more than 3,500 acres

Overnight the Sylvan Fire grew to 3,583 acres, according to the latest U.S. Forest Service incident report just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 23. More firefighters are on scene after the fire moved rapidly east Tuesday evening, right up the shores of Sylvan Lake, prompting numerous pre-evacuation or evacuation notices.

Here’s the USFS press release from Monday morning, June 23:

EAGLE, Colo. – Firefighters today will work to hold the area of the fire that crossed Forest Road 400 (West Brush Creek Road), aided by two heavy helicopters and a light helicopter. Crews are scouting East Brush Creek Road for fireline opportunities as contingency.

Firefighers have burned in some fireline north and east of Crooked Creek Park as they work to keep the fire from moving farther south. Crews will also work to contain the heel of the fire on the north side, and people may see air tankers helping with that effort.

The fire is currently 3,583 acres. There is currently no containment estimate. The cause is under investigation but lightning is suspected. 

The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team will assume management of the fire beginning tomorrow and will be based out of the Eagle Valley Middle School in Eagle. People should be aware of increased fire traffic in the downtown Eagle area.

A virtual community meeting will be held on the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at 6 p.m. tonight.

The White River National Forest will enter Stage 2 fire restrictions on Friday.

For the latest information about pre-evacuation or evacuation notices, visit www.ecemergency.org for Eagle County and www.pitkincounty.com for Pitkin County.

The White River National Forest has issued a closure order for the area around the Sylvan Fire.

The latest information including closure maps is available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7562/.  

For more information about wildfire smoke visit https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires.   

And here’s the USFS press release from Tuesday night, June 22:

EAGLE, Colo. – Fire activity on the Sylvan Fire increased dramatically in the late afternoon as clouds cleared and temperatures increased.

Strong west winds pushed the fire east, where it reached Sylvan Lake and crossed West Brush Creek Road (FSR 400) above the lake. The growth triggered changes in evacuation and pre-evacuation levels in areas in Eagle County. For the latest information about pre-evacuation or evacuation notices, visit www.ecemergency.org for Eagle County and www.pitkincounty.com for Pitkin County.

An additional 60 firefighters arrived today, including a Hot Shot crew. Two heavy helicopters and a light helicopter dropped water. A VLAT (Very Large Air Tanker), LAT (Large Air Tanker) and two single-engine air-tankers dropped retardant.

At 6 p.m. the fire was mapped at 3,359 acres. There is currently no containment estimate. The cause is under investigation but lightning is suspected. 

The White River National Forest has issued a closure order for the area around the Sylvan Fire.

The latest information including closure maps is available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7562/.  

For more information about wildfire smoke visit https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires .