Basalt Fire Department Capt. Brian Davies and two colleagues thought they had wrapped up a long day on the line at the Lake Christine Fire shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday when all hell broke loose in what authorities described as a “prolific ember shower.”
The fire crested the ridge across Highway 82 from Whole Foods, picked up steam and raced toward the El Jebel Mobile Home Park. Davies and Basalt firefighters Steve Howard and Bryce Halverson were assigned to protect structures on Prentice Trail in the heart of El Jebel as swirling winds gusting to 50 mph whipped flames their way.
“It was kind of scary,” Davies said while still on the fire line Thursday evening. “We definitely thought we were going to lose the trailer park for a couple of minutes.”
Mark Skrede, a resident of the mobile home park since 1986, was feeling a sense of ease at dusk. The fire was far to the east and seemed to be lying down for the night. He ran an errand and upon return saw wind-whipped flames racing down the slopes. He thought his home of 32 years would soon be incinerated.
“Oh, yeah, totally toast,” Skrede said.
Read the full story