5 Colorado firefighters have to get medical attention while fighting Quarry Fire burning in Jefferson County

Five firefighters in Colorado have had to get medical attention as they fought the Quarry Fire in steep terrain in Jefferson County. Four of the firefighters suffered heat exhaustion and one firefighter had a seizure. All of them suffered the issues on Wednesday and they are all expected to fully recover.

"It's 98 degrees. You bet we're hot. Put on 30, 40, 50 ... pound gear and then go up and down these mountains when it's loose footing and it's rocky and you're climbing over stuff and you're digging line. It's tough work. And that's why we had four firefighters yesterday go down with heat exhaustion," Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokesman Mark Techmeyer said in a news conference held near the fire lines on Thursday. "We also had one firefighter suffered a seizure yesterday. He is not hospitalized."

Three of the firefighters returned to the front lines of the wildfire after they were treated and released. 

"Thursday marks Denver's ninth day above 90 degrees, and we expect this heat to linger through next Wednesday," First Alert Meteorologist Joe Ruch said. "With temperatures of the magnitude being experienced across Colorado's Front Range, those working outdoors should try their best to take steps to avoid heat exhaustion including frequent breaks in the shade and hydration."

The Quarry Fire started on Tuesday night near the intersection of West Deer Creek Canyon Road and Grizzly Drive. It has burned several hundred acres and was zero percent contained on Thursday afternoon. Because of the need for water from aerial teams, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has closed Chatfield Reservoir to boating.

In addition to concerns about firefighter safety because of heat and the steep terrain where the fire is burning, the area is also known for rattlesnakes.

The American Red Cross has a shelter set up for evacuees at Dakota Ridge High School in Littleton. Several dozen people were staying there on Thursday.

The evacuation area's subdivisions are:  Deer Creek Mesa, Sampson, Maxwell, McKinney, Murphy (mandatory evacuations), and Silver Ranch & Silver Ranch South (pre-evacuation orders only).