Phantom Canyon crew, partners, and residents help contain lightning-sparked Tail Fire and weekend blazes
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Larimer County’s Phantom Canyon wildland crew, together with regional partners, moved quickly this past weekend to contain several small wildfires sparked by storms and dry summer conditions.
On Friday, a lightning strike in the Laramie River Valley ignited what became known as the Tail Fire. Staff from Diamond Tail Ranch spotted the smoke, relayed coordinates, and guided crews to the site. The U.S. Forest Service, Phantom Canyon firefighters, Red Feather resources, and county emergency services responded, ultimately containing the 0.03-acre blaze. Phantom Canyon firefighters camped overnight to ensure it did not reignite, and it was officially declared out Saturday morning.
By Sunday, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Department also assisted with two additional fires near Estes Valley and County Road 29. Both were contained quickly before they could spread…