Denver Water has provided firefighters with keys to unlock security gates blocking Dillon Dam Road and rearranged concrete barriers that had raised concerns for public safety.
But while the changes will make it easier for firefighters to get through, the agency is still in violation of fire code regulations that require unimpeded access to roads for firetrucks, said Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue spokesman Brandon Williams.
“That’s still not unimpeded access.”
The changes to the barriers are a first step, and Denver Water will put security measures in place that will give Fire-Rescue easier access to the road before next month, Denver Water spokeswoman Stacy Chesney said.
“Today, we worked to eliminate their urgent concern that they didn’t have access to the road. We know that there is more work to do with them on this, and we will continue to work to get them the access that they need,” she said.
Denver Water will soon install portable gates that will make it easier for emergency crews to get to the road, Chesney said.
The fire marshal has issued a notice of violation to the agency, Williams said. “The (Summit County) Sheriff’s Department will decide what the next step is.”
Violations of the fire code are a misdemeanor that can be punished by a fine, imprisonment or both. Each day that the road remains blocked could be a separate violation.
The standoff began when the agency erected concrete “Jersey” barriers and closed the road on July 8 over concerns that the dam could be a target of terrorists.
No specific threats have been made against the dam, Chesney said. But recently, the Water Board became aware that the earthen dam is more vulnerable to attack than had been believed, she added.
Denver Water was scheduled to hold a closed meeting Wednesday night with Summit County law enforcement officials to give them information on the perceived security threat, Chesney said.
“We will be sharing information about what we know about the dam vulnerability. It is a closed meeting because it is dealing with security issues.”
Last Friday, emergency workers had to wait several minutes for someone from the agency to open the gate and then had to leave their trucks outside the barriers to reach an injured cyclist.
Wednesday, Fire-Rescue was able to drive an engine through the reconfigured concrete barriers, Williams said.
But fire officials don’t want to have to call a guard, which can result in the message going into voice mail.
Fire-Rescue had given the agency until 2 p.m. Wednesday to arrange barriers so that firetrucks could get through without trouble or risk facing criminal fire-code charges.
“It is not perfect, but at least it is moving in the right direction. We are going back every day to see if access is restored. It is just like a glacier; it is moving awfully, awfully slow,” Williams said.
