Elephant Butte is a local prominence situated in Evergreen, CO. The butte and land around it is owned by Denver Mountain Parks. The lake was used by the helicopters to refill © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
The challenge faced by the firefighters was enormous © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
An Erickson S-64 Helitanker passes overhead in its approach to the butte © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
A number of trees flared unpredictably, creating another danger to the aircraft © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
A single engine prop makes its approach © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
..dropping a load of retardant near the leading edge of the fire © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
One part of the firefighters strategy becomes clear - contain the fire on the southeast side of the butte, the direction of the prevailing wind © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
The sight of large planes dropping fire suppressant near treetop level was certainly a spectacle © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
Coming off the lake after a refill © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
Three aircraft tankers, three helicopters, and at least one single engine prop plane, along with firefighters working on the ground to create a fire break, combined to contain the threat © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
© 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
The cause of the fire is undetermined, but lightning/nature was ruled out © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
A timely rain storm helped matters © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
Residents of a nearby neighborhood watch the drama unfold © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
In the end about 40 acres of woodland were destroyed, but no lives or homes were lost. The community sends its thanks to the emergency response team members who expertly worked together to contain and end the threat © 2022 Geoffrey Erdahl
