A disturbing story has emerged from the heart of Colorado’s fourteener country.

According to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, a report was received on June 14 of attempted arson that had been discovered just west of Clear Creek Reservoir along County Road 390. This road is well-known among Colorado’s hikers as it leads to trailheads that summit 14,000-foot peaks of Mount Belford, Mount Oxford, Missouri Mountain, and Huron Peak.

The report came from National Forest Service firefighters who came across the scene during a routine patrol of the area, found about 15 miles north of Buena Vista. The location of the attempted arson was described as on unposted private property that’s heavily bordered by national forest land, with multiple trees found to be burned.

A preliminary investigation into the situation pointed to one or more people attempting to “purposely start a forest fire” with an accelerant – most likely gasoline – used on and near two trees and possibly a third. A clear plastic beverage container was found on the scene, suspended from a limb of the third tree and containing a large amount of accelerant. When the scene was found, the fire had already burned itself out prior to reaching the bottle of accelerant.

Members of the public have been asked to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior while in the backcountry, documenting license plates and taking pictures if something seems off without putting oneself in danger.

An investigation into the situation is underway. Anyone who may have information that helps with the case has been asked to contact the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center at 719-539-2596.

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