EVACUATION PLAN - GREATER TOLLGATE CANYON COMMUNITY
In the case of an emergency it is important to have a plan available for all residents and visitors. Below please find the Greater Tollgate Area Evacuation Plan, created in the spring of 2022. This was developed with collaboration between our residents and the county Emergency Manager. It has been distributed to officials in Summit County, and is posted here so you can familiarize yourself with the plan, summer evacuation routes, and what to do in case of an evacuation warning or evacuation order due to wildfire or other emergencies.
1. PLANNING:
1.1 Purpose: To establish procedures for orderly and coordinated evacuation operations.
In the Pine Meadows Ranch, Forest Meadows, and Greater Tollgate Canyon Area, this document outlines
procedures to be used for evacuations, identifying primary evacuation routes and shelter resources.
1.2 Scope: The Fire Safety Committee for the Greater Tollgate Canyon Area has developed this plan to
streamline the evacuation process for residents and visitors in the Greater Tollgate Canyon Area in the event
of a wildfire incident or other emergency. The evacuation can be precautionary or ordered due to credible
information that a serious emergency may threaten the safety and lives of residents and visitors. The number
of affected persons for this evacuation is approximately 600-800 year-round residents as well as upwards of
2,500-4,000 visitors particularly when summer camps are open or during holidays.
1.3 Background: Wildfires are one of the most common hazards in the Western United States. Wildfires can
affect local communities, counties, states, or multiple states. Some wildfires develop slowly, over a period of
days. Others develop quickly in just a few minutes and without any warning.
1.4 Hazard Area Map: A map of the area with evacuation routes, safety zones (gathering points) and
evacuation centers. See Appendix A for a map showing routes.
2. TRIGGER POINTS:
2.1 Wildfire: Fire threatening communities from open-space, federal or private lands.
2.2 Fire from structure: Fire is likely to spread around and from structure to structure presenting threat to life
and property.
3. NOTIFICATION AND ALERTING:
3.1 Evacuation orders are mandatory: evacuation warnings are voluntary. These notifications will be issued by
emergency management services, the sheriff’s office, or law enforcement.
A voluntary evacuation warning is one suggested for precautionary measures, whereas a mandatory
evacuation order is for an immediate threat to life or property.
3.2 Alerting the public:
● Emergency Alert System (EAS) Broadcast: The County Sheriff or the County EM Director can activate the
EAS System to alert residents of imminent dangers (sign up at summitcountyalerts.org).
● Tollgate Fire Alert System: Sign up by texting TOLLGATEFIRE to 833-480-1299 to receive emergency alerts.
● Mobile public address systems and sirens: First responders using vehicle loudspeakers and sirens may
slowly drive roads in the affected area announcing the need to evacuate and indicating the best
available routes for evacuation.
● Follow color/numbered coordinated signage for designated fire exit, and reference Appendix A for the
map of existing evacuation routes. Please note, evacuation routes will continue to be updated and may
change. Visit pinemeadowranch.org to ensure you have the most current version of the evacuation map.
3.3 Sources for Information/updates:
● WWW.SUMMITREADY.COM
● Watch for text information from SLICKTEXT
○ Text TOLLGATEFIRE to 833-480-1299 to receive emergency alerts in real time
● The National Weather Service will issue warnings
○ Red Flag Warning
○ Red Flag Watch
● Social Media (Summit County Facebook page, Twitter, etc.)
● Summit County website: www.summitcounty.org
● News stations: local radio or TV stations (Channels 88.1, 88.5, 91.7)
4. EVACUATION PROCEDURES:
4.1 Direction and control: The amount of time it takes to evacuate an area depends on a variety of factors
that include the size of the vulnerable population, location of high hazard areas and transportation routes.
Localized fire and smoke, traffic crashes or incidents, and different scenarios will affect whether roads will be
open. Emergency officials will monitor roads and let the public know through checkpoints, signs, social media,
text alerts, and the County website if alternate routes should be taken.
4.2 Evacuation routes: Evacuation routes will often follow main roadways and routes utilized for daily
transportation. See Appendix A for a map showing routes that are designated as emergency evacuation routes
that are not utilized for daily transportation.
4.3 Gathering points/Evacuation centers with addresses:
● Winter Parking Lot Safe Zone: 1567 W Arapaho Dr (elv 7831)
● Crow Loop evacuation gate through Stagecoach Estates: 2626 Crow Loop (elv 7860)
● Additional evacuation routes and locations will be added as agreements with private property owners are
finalized
The following QR codes can be scanned with your cell phone camera to pull up the winter parking lot
coordinates and the Crow Loop route coordinates. Please become familiar with these locations prior to an
emergency, as cell phone service may be unreliable during an event.
QR CODE FOR WINTER PARKING LOT: Here
QR CODE FOR CROW LOOP EVACUATION ROUTE: Here
4.4 Evacuation guidelines: The following serves as an aid in reminding the public and responders of some
basic guidelines for an evacuation process in the possible case of either evacuation order or evacuation
warning.
IN CASE OF AN EVACUATION WARNING: In the case of an evacuation warning, immediately begin
gathering valuables and preparing your home in the event of a mandatory evacuation. See Appendix B checklist at the
end of this document.
IN CASE OF AN EVACUATION ORDER (ORDERS ARE MANDATORY): This is a mandatory action. Leave now!
Evacuate immediately. Follow any directions given in the evacuation order.
5. SAFETY AND HAZARDS:
5.1 Emergency responders: Emergency responders must keep safety as a priority. An injured responder adds a
victim to the disaster and decreases the responder pool for the rest of the emergency. In this type of situation,
the number of responders will not likely meet the identified need. Basic safety issues include the usual safety
hazards from transportation and weather, as well as additional hazards including fire, smoke, intense heat,
electrical issues from power lines, and other utilities.
Winter Parking Lot Safe Zone Crow Loop Evacuation Route
5.2 Exit route maintenance:
Officials who are assisting with route maintenance must wear traffic
visibility vests if they are available.
All appropriate signage should be used as it becomes available.
Any vehicle collisions on the route will be cleared as quickly as possible and traffic should not be stopped
unless critical. Traffic backup and issues can cause evacuees to use alternate routes that may not be safe
and/or may hinder evacuation procedures.
5.3 Evacuation Security and Monitoring:
Post-evacuation security and maintenance will be the responsibility of
local and regional law enforcement agencies. During mandatory evacuations, residents will not be allowed to
re- enter evacuated area.
5.4 Re-entry:
Re-entry into the area will be allowed only after the proper authorities have deemed the area
safe for re-entry. The evacuation area will be secured by law enforcement and re-entry without proper
approval may be considered a criminal offense. Once re-entry seems likely, the Incident
Commander, Emergency Manager, law enforcement will meet with representatives of the proper agencies and
develop a re-entry plan that will allow for the safest and most organized re-entry possible.
6. MISCELLANEOUS:
6.1 Assignments: Will be made in conjunction with the County Emergency Management, local disaster
services such as the Red Cross, and other public and private entities such as school systems and churches.
The use of evacuation centers to identify the need for services and shelter assignment is meant to improve
accountability and make the transition as smooth as possible for evacuees.
6.2 Coordination: All disaster responses need to be coordinated with the County, City Disaster Plans as
appropriate and with all responding agencies. Communication among parties will provide the safest and most
effective response to the disaster.
7. ATTACHMENTS:
7.1 Attachments:
Appendix A Evacuation map, including potential evacuation routes and the safe zone.
Appendix B Example preparation and evacuation checklists for yourself, your home, and
your animals