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Genesee Fire Rescue Monthly Call Summary – August 2025

 

🚨 Emergency Call Volume

Total Emergency Calls Responded To in August 2025: 34

Overall Call Breakdown:

  • Backcountry Rescue: 2
  • Medical Emergencies: 11
  • Hazardous Materials Incidents: 1
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents: 3
  • Motor Vehicle Fires: 2
  • Smoke Investigations / False Alarms: 7
  • Public Assists & Other: 8

 

Genesee Fire, together with teams from Foothills Fire, Arvada Fire, Colorado State Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Highland Rescue, responded to a hazardous materials spill on the morning of August 27.

Two people in hazmat suits working near a tanker truck on the side of a road.
Hazmat crew assesses the HCl spill 

 At approximately 7:51 a.m. MDT, a commercial truck began leaking hydrochloric acid (HCl), a highly corrosive and toxic liquid formed by dissolving hydrogen chloride gas in water, commonly used in industrial processes like metal cleaning, chemical manufacturing, and pH regulation. HCL has a variety of dangerous properties including:

  • Corrosivity: HCl can cause severe burns to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes upon contact. It corrodes metals, releasing flammable hydrogen gas, and can damage infrastructure or equipment.
  • Toxicity: Inhalation of HCl vapors or mist irritates the respiratory tract, causing coughing, choking, or pulmonary edema in severe cases. Prolonged exposure may lead to chronic lung issues. The I-70 response prioritized preventing vapor spread to protect public health.
  • Reactivity: HCl reacts violently with bases, oxidizers, and metals, potentially causing explosions or toxic gas release (e.g., chlorine gas). This reactivity necessitated careful handling during the I-70 cleanup to avoid secondary reactions.
  • Environmental Hazard: Spills, like the one on I-70, can contaminate soil and water, harming ecosystems. The response focused on containing the spill to prevent environmental damage, using neutralizing agents to mitigate its impact.
  • Health Risks: Ingestion can cause severe internal burns or death. The I-70 incident reported no injuries, largely due to swift hazmat intervention and road closures to limit exposure.

The Hazmat crew, including Genesee Fire's own Hazardous Materials Technician, Lt. Max Herte, responded promptly to contain the spill and prevent environmental contamination, particularly to the surrounding soil. The incident prompted the closure of both directions of I-70 between the Morrison and Lookout Mountain exits, as well as U.S. Highway 40 between mileposts 283 and 285, for several hours. Eastbound I-70 and both directions of U.S. 40 reopened shortly after 12:30 p.m., with westbound I-70 fully reopened by 2:30 p.m.

A secondary incident occurred when a commercial truck attempting to circumvent the road closure, rolled over on Grapevine Road. This rollover further complicated traffic management, with additional reports of semitrailers stuck on the Lariat Loop on Lookout Mountain as drivers attempted to bypass the closure.

Aerial view of a truck accident with a trailer overturned on a dirt road, surrounded by trees.
Overturned truck on Grapevine

 Thanks to prompt action from Genesee Fire and all of these partner agencies, the incident was contained and mitigated, without significant environmental or public health impacts.

 

August saw a noticeable increase in smoke investigations and false alarms, likely due to heightened fire and smoke present from wildfires to the west and the heightened risk from dry conditions. We encourage residents to regularly check and maintain smoke detectors to reduce false alarms and ensure proper function.

 

🛡️ Safety Tips of the Month

As we move deeper into the dry season, wildfire risks remain high. Here are key tips to keep your home and community safe:

  • Create a Defensible Space: Clear flammable materials like dry leaves, pine needles, and dead branches within 30 feet of your home. Consider replacing highly flammable vegetation with fire-resistant plants. For more tips and resources on risk reduction review this page!
  • Emergency Go-Bag: Prepare a go-bag with essentials like medications, important documents, water, and non-perishable snacks in case of a sudden evacuation. Check out the Wildfire Rhttps://www.rotarywildfireready.com/emergency-go-bag.htmleady page for tips about organizing your Go Bag and some ideas for what to include!
  • Stay Informed: Sign up for LookoutAlert to receive real-time emergency notifications from Jefferson County. Monitor local weather conditions for Red Flag Warnings.

📚 Helpful Resources for Genesee Residents

Wildfire Mitigation

Emergency Notifications

Preparedness & Training

Community Services

🧯 Contact & Questions

Non-Emergency Contact:
303-526-1230 | info@geneseefire.org
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