Rattlesnakes an issue for crews battling Colorado wildfire

Firefighters battling the Quarry Fire in Jefferson County are also having to deal with a rattlesnake issue.


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9NEWS (KUSA) is located in Denver, Colorado.

[robertodebeers]

My wife was struck by a rattlesnake last summer in northern Larimer county. The response of ambulances and helicopter was very fast. My wife was in ICU for three days on anti-venom. Rattlesnakes are no joke. Crews need to take them seriously.

[paulbrungardt]

$ 100 million for illegal immigrants, $10 million for wolves and not 1 cent for fire mitigation--Thank you Governor Polis !

[kurtsherrick]

Praying for the Fire Fighters. Brave men and women. They don't get paid enough.

[lizhall]

God bless the fire fighters and keep them safe.

[pfrstreetgang]

This is nothing unusual about this. Firefighters encounter them in every fire in Colorado.

[danielgriffith]

yeah, rattlesnakes bite right through heavy firefighting gear... just shows news focuses on the wrong stuff every time.

[catrivett]

And people wonder why I dispose of any rattlesnake that comes onto my property.

[catherinehpn]

As if fighting fires isn’t dangerous enough. Rattlesnakes angered and panicked is over the top. Shout out to all firefighters.

[valerier]

Oh no!!! I pray the firefighters style safe!!!

[mtngrammy]

It is also breeding season for rattlers, so there may be two together often! Praying for safety from fire AND anything else for the firefighters.

[sdb]

So how did this fire start in the first place?

[cocosurgerow]

Where’s your governor for more fire support ?

[danleemann]

I own a few buckets and a snake hook, so you know im totally qualified to handle snakes. Ill come help if i get some lunches out of it lol.

[RonaldWuerch]

Stop these people from lighting these fires...Problem solved.

[staciemanolis]

Thanks for educating us on the snakes habitat and behavior

[xLUGUBRIOUSx]

Rattlesnake gulch is much more south then either of the fires

[huntergrey]

"HERO" doesn't come close... Please stay safe😇

[curly__]

People don't understand that these men and women are just toiling near the flames in 95 degree heat and with the fire it can be well over 110 degrees with heavy gear at high elevations, and they're just moving on auto pilot turning over logs, digging lines, moving dead trees, etc, and when they have to stop and check every log and rock they come across even before they step for rattlesnakes, to say the least, this does not go well with being able to effectively get the fire out fast. What a mess. I'm praying for our fire fighters.

[aliciamarie]

Firefighters wear thick fireproof uniforms, right? Gloves & boots? Why would they be at risk for a strike? A good pair of boots and thick wool socks should be enough to prevent a strike from penetrating.
Also, I’m pretty sure cold water will render them immobile.

Anyway, I pray that no one gets struck. I think the fire itself is more of a risk though & the immense heat. I can’t even imagine it. I drove through Denver a few weeks ago. It was 108 and my Subaru wasn’t cooling my car off. I about died right there on i25.

[swatson]

I was bitten by a timber rattler. It wasn't fun. I warned my son as he is fighting the Alexander mountain fire.