Wildfire and whitewater: Parks and Wildlife Officers save lives and property in Chaffee County

Dean Miller
Southeast Region Public Information Officer
719-466-3927
[email protected]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers assigned to Chaffee County saved lives and property in opposing extremes of wildfire and whitewater, separate incidents placing heavy focus on first responder skills and crucial local relationships.

On July 14, CPW District Wildlife Manager Kevin Madler, Property Technician Taylor Woolmington, and DWM Jackson Baroni  were conducting property maintenance when they looked up and saw fire erupt on a ridgeline near their position from the direction of Buena Vista. While the Chaffee County Fire Protection District was already on scene, the Mountain View fire north of Buena Vista had just made itself known to CPW.

In rural areas, CPW officers, all fully-qualified law enforcement officers, operate in that capacity routinely. On this day, according to Madler, the transition to a first responder mindset happened in the instant smoke was sighted. 

“We immediately anticipated and prepared to support pre-evacuation notifications and evacuations from residential areas in the hills above us, and to alert campers at Clear Creek Reservoir State Wildlife Area near our location,” said Madler. “I called Sergeant William Plackner with the Chaffee County Sheriff’s office and let him know our team was in place and ready to assist.”

Soon enough, the area was placed on pre-evacuation and Madler and his team began alerting campers at recreation and camping sites along the reservoir and residents in a subdivision near his team’s location. At the same time, CPW Park Rangers began alerting visitors and campers at recreation and camping sites along the Arkansas River of the pre-evacuation.

In the moments that followed, Madler recalled hearing and seeing fire attack helicopters overhead as they pulled water from area sources. And then his phone rang. The Sheriff’s office had a request: Could Madler coordinate access for helicopters to draw water from Clear Creek Reservoir SWA? It was the largest body of water closest to the fire and could safely accommodate multiple helicopters.

Water rights and water access in Colorado are complicated business. While surface recreation and fishing at the reservoir are managed by CPW, Clear Creek is owned and operated by Pueblo Water, a municipality that serves the City of Pueblo. One individual in Chaffee County could rapidly approve an emergency water draw, and Madler had him on speed dial. 

“I had a feeling that call was coming,” said David Curtis, Pueblo Water Mountain Operations Specialist. “It was immediate ‘yes’.” Curtis lives on-site at the reservoir in company housing. He knew the fire was close and longstanding procedures authorized his approval in a crisis. 

“As a Coloradoan, as a hunter, and as an angler, I know how important it is to have CPW boots on the ground," said Curtis. “We work with CPW daily to ensure recreational access to the campground and the reservoir.”

With permissions relayed, helicopters were overhead and drawing water from Clear Creek in minutes. With no lives lost, the Mountain View fire was contained the next day at 60 acres and, sadly, with the heartbreaking destruction of two homes. 

Two phone calls between three neighbors had an extraordinary impact in Buena Vista on July 14 and it was recognized by the Chaffee County Fire Protection District.

“The winds during this fire were extremely erratic and we experienced several wind shifts while attempting to complete a direct attack on the fire. The complication of two structure fires made the aerial assets pivotal,” said Kira Jones, Fire Chief, Chaffee County Fire Protection District. “Having a water resource so close cut the turn around time between aerial drops. The local boots on the ground know each other, interact with each other outside of official job titles, and understand that when an ask occurs, the need is great.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife policy requires district wildlife managers to live in the districts they’re assigned. Kevin Madler’s home was in the pre-evacuation area. He remained at his post until 7 p.m. when he was properly relieved.

“I’m incredibly proud of this team,” said Sean Shepherd, CPW Area Wildlife Manager and team supervisor. “What I'm most proud of is that they never once called me and asked, ‘What should we do?’, the call I got was, ‘this is what we're doing’”.

Days later, Parks and Wildlife officers responded to another call for help, stepping forward with regional first responders once again. On July 27, three boaters navigating the Arkansas River above Maytag rapid near Canon City, overturned, ejecting all occupants. All were wearing life jackets and the group was able to turn the private fishing raft upright and climb back in, but they had lost one of their oars.

Unable to propel themselves towards shore, and with the next rapid approaching, they dropped anchor to slow the boat, however the anchor became stuck in rocks. As the anchor line tensioned against the current, the rear of the boat took on water and submerged, ejecting one boater again and sending the remaining oar downstream. 

The individual was able to swim the rapid and self-rescue to the south side of the river. Remaining occupants were stranded on the anchored boat and hesitant to attempt a swim to shore in the swift current above a rapid. The group used satellite texting to call 911 and received a rapid response: Help was on the way.

Fremont County Sheriff's Office Dispatch alerted CPW of the incident within the boundaries of the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area at 6:28 p.m. Jeff Hammond, AHRA Park Ranger and Swiftwater Rescue Instructor, responded from Salida with limited daylight remaining.

Hammond joined first responders on-scene from the Tallahassee Fire Protection District, Colorado State Patrol, and Fremont County Sheriff's Office. They found one person on shore and two others in a raft anchored approximately 20 feet from the south bank of the river, immediately above the rapid. 

The boaters had minor scrapes but were otherwise uninjured. Hammond and the firefighters communicated their plan to those in the raft and quickly rigged a line to the rear of the craft, released the anchor, and swung the vessel to shore above the rapid, safely bringing the remaining two boaters to shore at 8:02 p.m.

Those rescued included two first responders and an EMT who were recreating in the area from out of town. 

“We felt safe, taken care of, and respected throughout the rescue, which is meaningful considering we weren’t trained for boating in fast water,” said the rescued EMT. “We wanted to take a nice fishing trip; it was fine until the current sent us sideways into a huge rock. Our life vests literally saved our lives. The water wasn’t two or three feet, as we had just been in, it was 15 feet deep and we all struggled to get to the top; it was scary.

“This type of thing doesn’t happen to everyone else, it can happen to you, and it happens fast,” said the rescued EMT. “My recommendation: think before you go into any body of water and wear your life vest - it will save your life. Most importantly, set aside your ego and call 911 if you get in a bind; first responders just want you safe. I’ll always think of [our rescuers] and smile. I thank them all for saving our lives.”

According to Hammond, the incident demonstrated the importance of always wearing a lifejacket in whitewater and not exceeding the limits of your training or your equipment.

“First responders arrived quickly and successfully rescued this group. Their training and bravery highlight the caliber of personnel involved in this type of work,” said Tom Waters, CPW’s AHRA Park Manager. “Jeff Hammond exemplifies the qualities we see in our rangers throughout the state and this incident truly spotlights the many talents of the rangers who serve Colorado.” - Story by Dean Miller, CPW, Southeast Region PIO

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PHOTO CUTLINES:

1001_Binoculars_Radio_Truck/Left to right, Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Kevin Madler, District Wildlife Manager; Jackson Baroni, DWM; and Taylor Woolmington, Property Technician, were conducting property maintenance July 14 when they looked up and saw fire erupt on a ridgeline near their position from the direction of Buena Vista. While the Chaffee County Fire Protection District was already on scene, the Mountain View fire north of Buena Vista had just made itself known to CPW. The team's action's ensured timely water access for helicopter attack on the mountain view fire and pre-evacuation notifications to those recreating and living near the team's position. Photo/CPW

1002_Three_at_truck/Left to right, Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Jackson Baroni, District Wildlife Manager; Kevin Madler, DWM; and Taylor Woolmington, Property Technician, were conducting property maintenance July 14 when they looked up and saw fire erupt on a ridgeline near their position from the direction of Buena Vista. While the Chaffee County Fire Protection District was already on scene, the Mountain View fire north of Buena Vista had just made itself known to CPW. The team's action's ensured timely water access for helicopter attack on the mountain view fire and pre-evacuation notifications to those recreating and living near the team's position. Photo/CPW

1003_Blue_Raft_Colorado Parks and Wildlife Park Ranger/Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Jeff Hammond, standing, speaks with members of the Tallahassee Fire Protection District following a swiftwater rescue of three individuals July 27 on the Arkansas River. Photo/TFDD

1004_Rescue_team, First responders from the Chaffee County area pose with a rescued boater (second from left) from the swiftwater rescue July 27. From left: Jeff Hammond, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Park Ranger/Swiftwater Rescue Instructor; the rescued boater; and Capt James Rice, Senior Firefighter George Reichert, and Lt Toby Bryant, all three with Tallahassee Fire Protection District. Not Pictured: TFPD EMT Laurie Inman. Photo/TFDD