FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2026
Media Contact:
Valerie Ryan, Special Events and Marketing Manager
City of Black Hawk
303-582-2228
vryan [at] cityofblackhawk.org (vryan[at]cityofblackhawk[dot]org)
Black Hawk Fire Department Quickly Contains Small Wildfire in Maryland Mountain Quartz Valley Open Space Park
BLACK HAWK, Colo. — The Black Hawk Fire Department (BHFD), with assistance from the Black Hawk Police Department (BHPD) and Timberline Fire Protection District (TFPD), quickly contained a small wildfire in Maryland Mountain Quartz Valley Open Space Park, limiting the fire to approximately one-tenth (0.1) of an acre and preventing its spread into surrounding vegetation.
The City of Black Hawk extends its sincere appreciation to two Good Samaritans who discovered the fire and immediately took action to extinguish it before emergency responders arrived. Their quick actions helped slow the fire's spread and provided valuable information to responding crews.
Firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fire through the coordinated response of BHFD, BHPD, and Timberline Fire Protection District. No injuries were reported.
"The quick actions of these two individuals, combined with the coordinated response of our emergency services partners, helped keep this incident small," said Fire Chief Chris Woolley. "We're grateful for community members who stay vigilant and report potential hazards immediately."
Gilpin County and the City of Black Hawk remain under fire restrictions due to elevated wildfire danger. These restrictions prohibit open burning, the use of fireworks, and smoking in areas with combustible vegetation. Residents and visitors are urged to follow all current fire restrictions and exercise extreme caution while recreating outdoors to help reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires.
As dry conditions persist throughout the summer, residents and visitors are encouraged to remain alert while enjoying Black Hawk's parks, trails, and open spaces. Anyone who sees smoke or fire should immediately call 911 and report the location. Early reporting remains one of the most effective ways to prevent small fires from becoming major wildfires.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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