Dennis McMillan provided an update to what he believes happened during this serious event last December. First, the tank was 250 gallons and not 500, though a 250 gallon tank makes a very significant missile. It appears that a very large beetle killed pine tree blew down during the night. It brought down a power pole with a transformer attached. Dennis and Cris Meeks from the fire dept. put out a fire at that location. There was no fire link between that point and the cabins that burned, leading to the opinion that the cabin fires started when power lines were ripped from the cabins. Therefore, it appears critical that RFL residents remove dead pine trees, ESPECIALLY those that are near power lines or power poles.
The following is the original posting of the event. It was written the day after the fire.
We had a very serious event in Red Feather Village last night, but it could have been So Much Worse!!!
Here is a chronological explanation of what we believe occurred:
After midnight, the RFL Fire Dept. received an alarm of a possible small fire on Credemore Rd.
Several fire fighters were just leaving the fire barn when a serious fire began at the red A-Frame cabin above and to the west of the POA building. It is believed to have started when a tree fell on the cabin due to the extremely high winds (60mph+)
Residents and RFL property owners received reverse 911 calls at 2 AM calling for evacuations in the areas from Fox Acres down to Red Feather Lakes Road.
The fire fighters responded to the cabin fire and were on scene almost immediately. As they were unloading hoses, Dennis McMillan (RFL Trading Post) standing near the truck on CR 67J, heard a hissing sound coming from the cabin. The other fire fighters were on the east side of the truck, which is where Dennis moved rapidly. Just as he reached the truck, a 500 gallon propane sailed overhead and penetrated the east wall of the POA building. It entered where the stage is located. The tank went across the room and hit the wall near the front doors, then bounced into the kitchen where it came to rest. Lives could have been lost so easily!!
Fire departments from Glacier View, Crystal Lakes, and Livermore all responded.
Due to the very high winds, embers were flying everywhere and fire fighters could barely stay on their feet. The fire moved north along 67J and jumped over the road and moved toward Fox Acres. Flames got into Fox Acres but were suppressed there. Embers, some of them very large flew up as high as the now closed medical clinic. One piece of debris started a grass fire there.
At just after 4 AM, residents and property owners were allowed to return to their homes/cabins.
So, if you look over the event detailed above, it is easy to see that things could have been so much worse. We are sorry for the loss of two cabins. The damage to the POA building can be repaired. No water entered the POA building and the roof is thought to be in tact. The POA building is insured. There may be minor errors in the detail above, but based on a number of conversations from eye witnesses, we believe the above is quite accurate.
Many many thanks to all the volunteers and others that saved the village, and probably many of our homes and cabins. You are such great folks.
Below are some pictures:
East Wall of POA Bldg
This is the right side of the POA entry doorway.
