Storm king mountain is a mountain in the white river national forest of the rocky mountains, 5 miles 8. Storm king mountaintm was created to provide burnover protection products to wildland fire fighters, using the latest in. A memorial to the 14 firefighters who died on storm king mountain west of glenwood springs, colo. The trail is in memory of the 14 firefighters who died there during the south canyon fire in 1994. As he climbed, the snaking colorado river and patches of farmland disappeared below. News about the storm king firefighters memorial can be found at.
Firefighters who died on storm king mountain, july 6, 1994. Storm king mountain memorial trail, a doratheexplorer moment. Its purpose is to honor our living and our dead, to help us understand what happened there, and to allow us to reflect on the lessons we have learned so we can prevent future tragedies. Mar 30, 2016 news about the storm king firefighters memorial can be found at. It is on the north side of the colorado river and interstate 70 i70, between glenwood springs and new castle. Its still a steep hike to get to them, but at least its shorter.
Fire departments join neighbors app to make communities safer. On july 2, 1994, lightning sparked a fire near the base of storm king mountain, 7 miles 11 km west of glenwood springs, colorado. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Watch video and read the storm king series post independent july 6, 2009 the 15th anniversary of a tragedy. Storm king mountain memorial trail, a doratheexplorer. Storm king art center is located in the town of cornwall, ny. Garfield county volunteer fire department asks if it can. Hikers and hunters enjoy this undisturbed green space.
Fire behavior associated with the 1994 south canyon fire on. Storm king state park storm king mountain trail conference. The monument includes an inspired statue of firefighters, a photograph and biography of each firefighter who lost hisher life, and an explanation of the events that caused. On july 6th, 1994, 14 firefighters were killed on the south canyon fire near glenwood springs, co.
Storm king firefighters memorial aspen trail finder. Storm king mountain fire killed 14 firefighters 19. Fire officials said some of the victims apparently had tried to climb into their fire shelters, shiny blankets used as shields during flareups. July 6, 1994, fourteen wildland firefighters gave their lives on storm king mountain during the south canyon fire. I used to look at the photos of the victims on storm king mountain, young women and men still in the blossom. Storm king art centers dramatic landscape includes farmed fields, natural woodlands, lawns, native grasses, wetlands, and water. Storm king mountain trail hiking visit glenwood springs colorado.
Kathi julie beck, 24 ochoco national forest in oregon tamera tami jean bickett, 25 ochoco national forest scott a. The fire jumped beyond the fireline and twelve firefighters were caught, unable to outrun it. The storm king mountain trail is a memorial to the 14 firefighters who died defending the homes and property of people they didnt even know. On july 6, a dry cold front hit the area, causing high winds and increased fire activity. The storm king fourteen memorial trail is an intermediatemoderate trail you can hike. Storm king 14 not to be forgotten in glenwood springs. Hunting is allowed on the west side of route 9w and is. Fourteen firefighters usfs and 1 blm died while assigned to storm king mountain fire near glenwood springs co. View from the top of mount storm king s climbers trail. A crew of blm smokejumpers watches from canyon creek estates as the fire on storm king mountain began to blow up the afternoon of july 6, 1994.
He has worked on wildland fire issues in montana, colorado, california, and georgia since 1972. A thin plume of smoke soon rose from storm king mountain in the. National firefighters 911 memorial patch project hazmat for healthcare firefighters quest firecentrics experienced safety educators hot shield usa city of san jose fire dept. Storm king mountain south canyon fire memorial two. Storm king mountain via storm king trail new york alltrails. Colorado pianist jeff van devender witnessed the storm king fire in 1994 which killed 14 firefighters. It offers a quiet place of reflection amid one of glenwoods busiest parks. An angry, compassionate memorial to a mysterious tragedy a new book reconstructs and analyzes all that led up to the deadly firestorm on storm king mountain where 14 firefighters died. Just a young 19yearold then, my only remaining memories are of carrying landscaping material, briefly sitting beside a father as he dug the hole for his sonsdaughters cross, and choking up with exhaustion and tears as i tried to climb the last 150 yards to. This monument in glenwood springs, colorado, is to honor the 14 firefighters who were caught in a firestorm fighting the storm king mountain fire just west of glenwood. Outside adventure media created the video hallowed ground. The maryland comptrollers office is holding millions. The 14 firefighters that were killed while fighting the south canyon fire on storm king. Several years later he wrote storm king sacrifice for piano at the base of storm king mountain, a touching and descriptive tribute to the fallen heroes who lost their lives battling the elements on that fateful day.
Just a young 19yearold then, my only remaining memories are of carrying landscaping material, briefly sitting beside a father as he dug the hole for his sonsdaughters cross, and choking up with exhaustion and. Storm king mountain memorial trail colorado alltrails. Fire behavior associated with the 1994 south canyon fire on storm king mountain, colorado. Remembering the firefighters killed on storm king mountain in. Slideshow of the storm king fourteen memorial trail on storm king mountain near glenwood springs, colorado. Luckily, there are several outcroppings about halfway to the top offering similar views. Storm king mountain south canyon fire memorial two rivers. I used to look at the photos of the victims on storm king mountain. Fire fighter fatalities in the united states 1994 us fire. Technically you scale up two mountains, butter hill and storm king, but most people just describe it as storm king mountain. The 14 firefighters that were killed while fighting the south canyon fire on storm king mountain near glenwood springs, colo. Ive studied the south canyon fire on and off ever since i helped build the memorial trail on storm king mountain way back in 1995. It is often also referred to as the storm king fire. Firefighters who died in storm king fire remembered 20 years.
From grand central terminal visitors can buy a train ticket to the beacon station that includes discounted storm king admission. Our products are warranted for two years, made to be durable and free from any defects in materials or workmanship when used under our recommended guidelines. Initially small and well away from private property, the fire was assigned low priority and allowed to smolder for the first two days. Firefighters who died in storm king fire remembered 20 years later. Storm king mountain 14 glenwood springs, co firefighter. Follow this trail for one mile until you reach the top of storm king mountain where you can catch your breath and enjoy the great views of hudson highlands state park across the river. These 14 people have become a part of our community, and they will not be forgotten, said zanella, who devoted much of the following year serving on the storm king 14 memorial committee, which worked to erect a monument in glenwood springs and build a memorial trail up the mountainside.
Just a young 19yearold then, my only remaining memories are of carrying landscaping material, briefly sitting beside a father as he dug the hole for his sonsdaughters cross, and choking up with exhaustion and tears as i tried to climb the last 150. Jul, 2014 slideshow of the storm king fourteen memorial trail on storm king mountain near glenwood springs, colorado. Storm king mountain trail hiking visit glenwood springs. This is an easy, yet very rewarding hike with a lot of viewpoints on the way up. Concord, nh patch breaking local news events schools. A memorial was held sunday to remember those killed in the storm king mountain fire 20 years ago. Our products undergo rigorous flame tests, maintaining iso, australia csiro, national fire protection association nfpa and storm king mountain standards.
Rocky mountain research station research paper rmrsrp9 september 1998 fire behavior associated with the 1994 south canyon fire on storm king mountain, colorado bret w. An angry, compassionate memorial to a mysterious tragedy. His fire research experience includes prescribed fire, fire danger rating, fire behavior, and the wildlandurban interface. Ashley smith timesnews josh brinkley looks at the memorial for mccall.
Remembering the firefighters killed on storm king mountain. Tribute to fallen storm king firefighters in colorado released. Find highquality storm king mountain stock photos and editorial news. Fire originon july 2, 1994 lightning sparked a fire near the base of storm king mountain, 7 miles 11 km west of glenwood springs, colorado. The mountain resort of 6,000 people is between aspen and vail about 180 miles west of denver.
Courage and shock still resonate 25 years after deadly storm king. This is a great hike for families with younger kids, those who dont have much time but want. Blecha, 27 ochoco national forest levi brinkley, 22 ochoco national forest. Storm king mountain fire killed 14 firefighters 19 years. Storm king mountain memorial trail, which takes viewers through the memorial trail that honors the 14 hotshots, smokejumpers and helitak. June 6 marks 18 years since the loss of 14 firefighters in the fire on storm king mountain near glenwood springs in the south canyon fire. The trail leads to a site that overlooks the area where 14 firefighters lost their lives. Four different parking areas are available to access the trails two of 9w north, one off mountain road at the stone pillars, and one off route 218 which is a seasonal road.
The lightningsparked fire began sunday, five miles west of glenwood springs. Dec 26, 20 a memorial to the 14 firefighters who died on storm king mountain west of glenwood springs, colo. On july 2nd, 1994, lightning sparked a fire on storm king mountain near glenwood springs, colorado. It was the subject of john maclean s book fire on the mountain. Sep 18, 2017 the storm king mountain memorial trail is one of many memorials to those who lost their lives battling the south canyon fire. But its a grind to get there, and the climb to the summit can be dangerous in bad weather. Produced and distributed quarterly by the wildland fire lessons learned center. Its glowering eastern end rises sheer from the river to more than 1,300 feet and is the dominating feature of storm king state park. More information about the storm king fire can be found at.
A few years later, the fire on storm king mountain brought that lesson tragically home. The storm king mountain memorial trail is a memorial to those who lost their lives while battling the south canyon fire and a tribute to firefighters everywhere. Early efforts to get the fire under control failed and more help and assistance were needed. Concord church to host sunday services drivein style. Storm king state park offers unsurpassed views of the catskills and the hudson valley. As storm king has grown, its landscape has been gradually altered to accommodate and enhance the collection, frame vistas, and encourage movement through the site. Theres also a memorial trail on storm king mountain which follows a path the firefighters hiked to. Storm king offers shuttle service roundtrip from the beacon train station on saturdays, sundays, and holiday mondays. On july 2, 1994, lightening sparked a fire near the base of storm king mountain.
This is a 2 mile dirt trail in glenwood springs, co. The fire on storm king mountain in july 1994 which has gone down to posterity as the south canyon fire due to a mistake that feelswith the perfect vision of hindsightlike an omen of all the snowballing mistakes to come was a clusterfuck of epic proportions. To honor the storm king 14 and the surviving fire teams on the 25th anniversary of this tragic fire, local, state and federal organizations are planning a commemoration july 6, 2019, in glenwood springs, colorado. Storm king mountain is along the west bank of the hudson river south of cornwallonhudson, new york. Firefighters who died in storm king fire remembered 20. Fire behavior associated with the 1994 south canyon fire. The true story of the south canyon fire from publishers weekly.
With a reporters objectivity and brisk prose, maclean describes a series of small blunders in fire management that led to tragedy in july 1994 in western colorado when a thunderstorm on storm king mountain, mislabeled by a dispatcher as south canyon, killed 14 firefighters. The south canyon fire was a 1994 wildfire that took the lives of 14 wildland firefighters on storm king mountain, near glenwood springs, colorado, on july 6, 1994. The wildland firefighters memorial, at prinevilles ochoco creek park. They were unaware at the time that many of their fellow firefighters would be killed on the mountain that day. A ski lift at the copper mountain ski resort is named after the mountain. May 28, 2012 on july 2, 1994, lightening sparked a fire near the base of storm king mountain. Fire officials said some of the victims apparently had tried to climb into their fireshelters, shiny blankets used as shields during flareups. Deaths in arizona stir memories of colorados storm king mountain. Each of them left their homes, families, and friends to help extinguish a fire caused by a lightning strike in the mountains surrounding glenwood springs, colorado. The trail started as the best approach to the tragic spot by grieving family members of the lost firefighters and a local community in shock. Storm king mountaintm was created to provide burnover protection products to wildland fire fighters, using the latest in spaceage materials and manufactu. In 1962, the consolidated edison power company proposed to build a pumped storage electrical generating plant that would have cut away the face of storm king. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from april until november. Bel air, md patch breaking local news events schools.
Winds whipped the small fire into an inferno on july 6th, taking the lives of 14 firefighters. Storm king fourteen memorial trail aspen trail finder. To complete the loop, turn right on the whiteblazed bypass trail for 0. The storm king mountain memorial trail is one of many memorials to those who lost their lives battling the south canyon fire. Storm king mountain looms above the hudson river like a fortress, dominating the rugged river gorge on the west. Hikers flock to mount storm king for that signature shot, standing on a rocky outcropping above lake crescent. The storm king mountain memorial trail, closely following the actual path the firefighters hiked to fight the blaze, leads visitors to. Jul 06, 2014 a memorial was held sunday to remember those killed in the storm king mountain fire 20 years ago.