Arapahoe County's missile silo problem
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Sable Altura fire chief Rich Solomon says he's fed up with silo rescues. Photo: Robert Sanchez/Axios
Back-to-back rescues at an abandoned Titan I missile silo have Arapahoe County fire chiefs warning that thrill seekers are stretching rural crews and putting rescuers at risk.
Why it matters: Every rescue pulls fire crews into dangerous Cold War-era complexes where radios fail, standing water pools and decades-old concrete and metal are deteriorating as wildfire season stretches already-thin departments.
The big picture: Fire officials suspect social media and online videos are fueling a broader urban exploration problem at Cold War-era sites.
Reality check: Old drawings circulating online don't match decades of decay. Fire officials say concrete has separated, walkways have buckled and standing water collects.
- Online schematics and exploration videos can make the complexes appear far safer and more navigable than they really are.
- Rescuers also worry about air quality underground and that some standing water has an oily sheen.
Driving the news: Five people entered the same silo near the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds this month in two separate incidents just six days apart.
- On July 8, an 18-year-old woman had to be rescued after she couldn't climb out.
- Then on July 14, a 28-year-old woman required rescue from roughly 60 feet underground.
By the numbers: Fire crews have responded to five silo rescues across three sites in just two years.
- During the July 8 rescue, The Sable Altura Fire District already had 10 firefighters deployed to the Gold Mountain Fire near Ouray, forcing neighboring agencies to cover emergency calls while crews rescued people from the silo.
What they're saying: "Somebody is getting hurt, and somebody's going to die," Rich Solomon, Sable Altura's fire chief, says.
The intrigue: Titan I silos in the fire district sit on private property, and landowners are frustrated after repeated break-ins.
- Crews have been called back just hours after rescues because others were already trying to get inside.
What's next: Sable Altura's board approved a $5,000-per-person fee last week for silo rescues. Deer Trail is considering a similar policy.
- The July 8 group was cited for second-degree criminal trespass, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, and the juvenile cases were routed through the 18th Judicial District.