The Fishhook Fire, located 1.5 miles north of U.S. Highway 40 just southeast of Steamboat Ski Resort, has spread to at least 100 acres and is 0% contained as of 2:15 p.m. Monday, according to Aaron Voos, public affairs specialist for the Routt National Forest Service.

Forest Service officials posted an update to the incident report Monday morning, noting that growth occurred overnight. An incident management team was ordered and both aerial and ground resources are expected to engage the fire today. An area closure for the surrounding forest is in the works and will be announced soon.

Responding personnel face difficult ground access, added Forest Service officials. Aerial resources are being utilized to verify and update acreage. U.S. Highway 40 remains open, and additional firefighting resources were en route as of Monday afternoon. 

The cause of the fire has not been identified, he added. Ground crews, who are primarily accessing the fire through Bruce’s Trailhead, “have not been able to access the origin.”

Voos told the newspaper Monday afternoon that a Type One helicopter out of Operation Sky Hammer, meant primarily for initial response, was utilized Sunday and Monday to fight the Fishhook Fire.

Forest service officials announced the launch of Operation Sky Hammer, which includes two Sikorsky Skycrane helicopters hosted at the Yampa Valley Regional Airport, in mid-July last year with the aim of providing standby resources for rapid regional firefighting response.

In addition to Forest Service crews and helicopters, U.S. Wildland Fire Service personnel — including the Boise Helitack crew — and contract resources are all responding to the Fishhook Fire, added Voos.

He noted that while fire activity Monday morning and early afternoon has been “moderate” with minimal growth, the fire “took off” in the heat of the day Sunday and could do the same today.

Voos said that while the fire is not currently near any residences, its spread could potentially threaten infrastructure at Steamboat Ski Resort, including power lines and ski lifts/cables. 

Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation Director of Communications Maren Franciosi said the growth of the fire prompted crews to start 41 snowmaking guns to wet the areas around Tomahawk and Spike trails and around Rendezvous Lodge.

The resort has also established its incident command and emergency response team. It consists of members from various divisions including mountain operations, communications, risk and safety, human resources and the leadership team.

The resort is in contact with local, state and federal emergency services and fire officials, said Franciosi, adding that 14 resort employees have been displaced by the fire and are being lodged at the Steamboat Grand.

The resort has also adjusted its day-to-day operations, restricted access to the upper mountain and cancelled its events on Sunday.

While no official road closures or evacuations have been announced for the Fishhook Fire, members of the public should avoid recreating in the Rabbit Ears area, said Routt County Search and Rescue representatives. Campers should be prepared to evacuate if an order is given.

To view evacuation zones in Routt County, visit tinyurl.com/4bss4p3k.

To sign up for Routt County Alerts, visit tinyurl.com/knacnepd.