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Upper Frying Pan on pre-evacuation notice due to Sylvan Fire burning in Eagle County

Fire near Eagle grew to 180 acres Sunday, is active within a mile of campground at Sylvan Lake State Park

The Sylvan Fire, first reported around 4 p.m. Sunday, is estimated to be 90 acres and growing in lodgepole pine and other timber on the White River National Forest.

UPDATE, Monday morning: The upper Frying Pan Valley from the Ruedi Reservoir dam to Hagerman Pass is under pre-evacuation notice due to the Sylvan Fire, according to a Monday morning Pitkin County alert.

An evacuation center is set up at the Basalt High School, 600 Southside Drive, according to the alert. More information is available at http://www.ecemo.org or follow your local media and social media for updates.

En Espanol

A las 0630 AM, La sartén superior desde la presa hasta el paso de Hagerman está bajo aviso previo a la evacuación debido al incendio de Sylvan. Se ha establecido un centro de evacuación en Basalt High School (600 Southside Drive). Si decide evacuar y necesita recursos, vaya a Basalt High School. Hay más información disponible en http://www.ecemo.org o siga sus medios locales y redes sociales para obtener actualizaciones.



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A wildland fire that broke out around 3:15 p.m. Sunday afternoon near the campground at Sylvan Lake State Park quickly grew to more than 180 acres by nightfall.



The fire, which remains active as of 9:15 p.m. Sunday, is burning in the White River National Forest immediately west of the campground at Sylvan Lake State Park. Local forest service spokesperson David Boyd said the best estimate crews had on the ground as of nightfall put the fire at about 180 acres — a little more than a quarter of a square mile.

But a flyover, expected for late Sunday night or some time Monday, will give crews a better estimate, Boyd said.

Flyovers for acreage estimates of fires in the West are in demand at the moment, as there are many fires burning, Boyd said.

The fire as seen from Sylvan Lake State Park.
Sean Naylor/Vail Daily

The main area of concern in the Sylvan Fire is an Xcel Energy transmission cable.

Sixty firefighters, Boyd said, along with four single-engine air tankers and a type-III light helicopter worked the fire Sunday.

The fire is burning in lodgepole pine and other timber and is being pushed by high winds.

Campers and others recreating at Sylvan Lake State Park, Yeoman Park, Crooked Creek Pass dispersed camping, LEDE Reservoir and Hardscrabble were evacuated late Sunday afternoon after the fire broke out. Residents were still allowed into nearby communities.

The cause of the blaze is unknown and under investigation, Boyd said. The Forest Service is considering the fire a Type-III incident.

Crews from Greater Eagle Fire Protection District, Eagle River Fire Protection District and the U.S. Forest Service-White River National Forest responded.

Boyd also said other fires burning in other parts of Western Colorado are drawing aerial support.

Firefighters on the Western Slope area also responded to a wildland fire north of Grand Junction near Douglas Pass and another in South Routt County on Sunday, and lightning sparked small fire in North Routt County on Sunday, as well.

—This story will be updated


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