Tollgate Fire Continues To Burn After Reaching Nearly 300 Acres Burned

Monday night the fire at Tollgate Canyon had burned 287 acres, with containment at just 10%.
 
The fire caused evacuation of four homes on Forest Meadow Road as well as the Blue Sky/Highwest Distillery. The flames also caused the closure of exit 150.
 
The Tollgate Canyon fire started around 2:30 pm. and was originally reported to be just 10 acres. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire. The flames made their way Northeast away from the Tollgate Canyon road but alongside I-80. Concerns that the flames might jump the freeway caused crews to employ a preventative back burn, meaning they burned the area next to the freeway to prevent the flames jumping the road.
 
While I-80 was able to remain open throughout the day, the road up Tollgate Canyon was not. The homes in Tollgate Canyon normally have one entrance and exit point. Around 3:00 pm Summit County officials unlocked the gate on Redhawk Ridge Road to allow Tollgate Canyon residents to distance themselves from the flames by heading up and over the canyon into Red Hawk Ranch.
 
While access on Tollgate Canyon Road was closed during the afternoon; Summit County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to escort some residents back to their homes to safely retrieve their pets.
 
Around 7:30 pm residents living in Tollgate were allowed to return to their homes.
 
The crews fought the fire Monday afternoon with two light fixed wing planes, two heavy planes, and two helicopters all dropping fire retardant on the flames. On the grounds three bulldozers and 15 trucks worked to fight the flames and create a fire line.
 
Crews were able to reach a 10% containment level by the end of the day.
 
Two firetrucks stayed overnight to watch the flames.