Steamboat & Flat Tops

Avalanche

On March 14, a roof avalanche at a construction site caught and buried two workers. The roof was unfinished and covered only in roofing membrane. The north-facing roof avalanched in the early afternoon. Two construction workers were on the ground below. The avalanche buried them between the structure and a dirt berm about 10 feet away. Other workers saw the avalanche bury the two, called 911, and rushed to help. Workers and sheriff's deputies rescued the two workers seven to ten minutes after the avalanche from under several feet of debris. One worker lost consciousness, and both were taken to the hospital for care. March 14 was the warmest day of the winter so far. The avalanche involved most of the roof surface and most of the season's snow accumulation. Avalanche debris included blocks four to five feet across but no ice.