Fire Watch

Hikers flee from Pine Creek Fire

Posted: Aug 30, 2012 10:12 AM by MTN News

Buddy Quaid and his wife were hiking to Pine Creek Lake yesterday afternoon, when a member of the Forest Service tracked the pair down.

"He told us they were looking for us," Quaid said. "We had to run the last 2 miles out of there. The walls of fire and smoke were closing in fast."

According to the Park County Sheriff's Office, the fire started around 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon on Roach Juan Road South of Pine Creek. High Winds and low humidity fueled the fire, which quickly spread into the nearby timber.

Quaid was able to take some pictures while running to safety.

"We safely made it out," he stated in an email to KBZK.

The fire burning in Pine Creek in Paradise Valley has grown to 2,500 acres. About 70 residences have been evacuated, with others put on alert. Evacuess are being sent to the Livingston Civic Center.