A historic fire season in Colorado

June 26, 2012, 10:30AM, MDST

Colorado Wildfire Updates

High Park Fire, continues to scorch the mountains west of Fort Collins, with 83,262 acres burned and 248 homes destroyed. The total of homes destroyed is now more than any other fire in Colorado’s history. One person has died in the fire. 2,000 firefighters battling the fire Monday will concentrate on watching for spot fires outside the containment lines, the fire is at 55% containment. An estimated date for full containment has been pushed back to July 30. Fire officials have issued an all-clear for residents living from Willow Patch Ln and Buckhorn Rd south and from Feverfew Rd and CR25E South, including Otter Rd and all roads branching off of Otter Rd. Residents will need to obtain credentials at the community meeting or at the checkpoint located at Stringtown Gulch Road and CR27E or at Hwy 14/CR29C. Tempratures for Tuesday will be in the 100s for the 6th day straight. Trees and grass remain as dry as they ever have been during the fire, and mosses and lichens are burning on granite rock. Tuesday, crews on the north side of the fire will continue line construction and reinforcement, and structure protection as necessary. Mop-up will focus around structures and unburned islands in the center of the burn area. Some 50 National Guard members are assisting with roadblocks. The cost of the fire to date is $31.5 million.

Fire Resources

6 Type 1 Helicopters; 3 Type 2 Helicopters; 10 Type 3 Helicopters

Heavy Air Tankers (available if needed)

164 Engines

13 Type 1 Hand Crews

20 Type 2 Hand Crews

24 Water Tenders

11 Dozers

2 Feller Bunchers (staged and available)

Little Sand Fire, The Little Sand Fire has burned 22,010 acres with 29% containment. The fire is burning 13 miles northwest of Pagosa Springs in rugged and inaccessible terrain just north of the Piedra River. Approximately 220 personnel are fighting the fire. The fire is in rugged and inaccessible terrain, north of the Piedra River. Cause of this fire was lightning. The fire started Sunday May 13th, 2012 approx. 04:00 PM. Crews will continue patrol of southern portion of the fire adjacent to the Piedra River. Use bucket drops and hand crews, as needed, to contain spot fires.

Hewlett Fire, still 100% contained firefighters are in the mop up mode. 7,685 acres were burned. There is still some smoldering with some interior hot spots resulting in no measurable perimeter growth. Burned acres by ownership: Private 1,322, state 245, USFS 6,118.

Waldo Canyon Fire, is now estimated to be 5% contained. Firefighters also reported that there hasn't been much growth. Earlier Monday, the size of the fire was estimated to be 4,500 acres. Heavy winds in the afternoon could continue to make smoke columns a major issue. Aircraft were delayed briefly due to that smoke earlier. Manitou Springs residents received good news over the weekend, getting word Sunday evening that they would be allowed to return home. All other evacuations remain in effect, including Crystal Park. There are currently 6,000 people evacuated. Highway 24 remains closed in both directions from Cave of the Winds to the El Paso/Teller County border. The Waldo Canyon fire continues to threaten the western side of El Paso County, with a high rate spread potential west into Cascade and Green Mountain Falls, and south to the Cedar Height subdivision where the fire has already come dangerously close. No injuries have occurred and no structures have been damaged. The fire's cause is currently still unknown. Command of the fight against the Waldo Canyon fire has now transitioned to a Type I incident management team from the Forest Service. Estimated containment date Monday July 16th, 2012, approx. 12:00 AM. Cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Sunrise Mine Fire, 5,742 acres burned, the fire is 100% contained. It is now being managed by local firefighting resources. They will continue to patrol and monitor the fire and put out any hotspots until it is declared controlled.

Springer Fire, 1,145 acres burned, fire is burning in Ponderosa pine and grass no damage to structures; firefighters have sustained three minor injuries during the incidents. Springer Fire is now considered to be at 100% containment as of 6 PM last night. The evacuation order for Boy Scouts of America Camp Alexander is expected to be lifted Monday morning, June 25. The closure of Eleven Mile Canyon Road is also expected to be lifted today. At 6 AM Monday morning, a local Type III Team will assume management of the Springer Fire. Current personnel and resources are being assigned to other fires in the region. Staff on the Springer Fire today will consist of approximately 82 individuals. Operational staff will include a 20 person handcrew, 5 wildland fire engines, and one Type III light helicopter. Firefighters continue to strengthen fire lines around the fire, particularly in and around Eleven Mile Canyon.

New Treasure Fire, The fire is roughly 10 miles southwest of Quandary Peak, some 6 miles northwest of Leadville and proximate to Climax Mine and the crest of Fremont Pass. It burns in Birdseye Gulch on the western side of Mosquito Peak. Reported at 320 acres and growing, 10% containment with 125 firefighters assigned to the fire. The fire is listed as a Type 4 incident, placing it lower on the priority list for resources. 4 full-size and one 10-person hand crews are working at the fire. Two of the four crews have arrived within the last 48 hours. Also assigned are one helicopter and various supervisory and support staff. One additional hand crew is on order.No structures are currently threatened. The Treasure fire is not threatening lives or structures at this time.

Woodland Heights Fire, this fire is located near Estes Park, officials say 27.3 acres burned, 22 homes and two structures were destroyed and no lives were lost. 100% containment, crews are in the process of mop up. Fire was caused by power line rubbing against tree branch causing it to spark.

Trout Creek Fire, the 25 acre wildfire in Douglas County is 100 percent contained. The fire was located west of Highway 67 at mile marker 89.5. The fire is near Rainbow Falls. There are 20 firefighters battling the fire, assisted by a helicopter and two single-engine air tankers. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reports there were no injuries or damaged structures.

CR-102 Fire, The fire, being called the CR102 fire, grew to about 600 acres, west of Elbert off of CR 114. The containment of the CR 102 Fire in Elbert County was changed around midnight on Monday from 100% contained to 75% contained. The fire is 90% contained as of Tuesday morning. Dangerous terrain in cavernous terrain reduced firefighters' ability to reach lower areas where the fire reignited. The fire has burned 300 acres and caused 100 people to be evacuated. One structure is threatened. The Town of Elbert has been placed on pre-evacuation notice for the day while suppression efforts continue for the canyon areas just west of the town.

State Line Fire, the fire has burned 350 acres including some buildings along U.S. Highway 550. The blaze is about 50% contained. Battling the blaze Monday were 140 fire personnel, 10 engines and a helicopter doing water drops. Cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Weber Fire, the Weber Fire near Mancos had expanded to 8,300 acres. Most of the growth was on north and northwest edges of fire, still about a mile southeast of Mancos and a half a mile south from U.S. Highway 160. Authorities are reporting 0% containment. No homes have been lost, one small outbuilding burned in the fire. No injuries have been reported. 160 fire personnel were working on the blaze, along with four helicopters, three single-engine air tankers and a guide plane. A Type 2 team from South Dakota took over fire fight work Sunday evening, bringing more resources and experience to fight the fire, more resources have been requested, including a Type 1 Hot Shot team, the possibility that the fire could jump Highway 160 continued to be one of officials’ top concerns. The Weber Fire was ranked the third highest priority in the Rocky Mountain Region, beneath the High Park Fire west of Fort Collins and the Waldo Canyon Fire west of Colorado Springs. Crews have also been trying to stop the fire’s northward progress and prevent it from crossing Highway 160.

Last Chance Fire, The fire has burned over 38,400 acres. The fast-moving blaze forced at least 25 residents out of their homes Monday near the town of Last chance. Automated evacuation calls were also sent out to homes around the town of Woodrow. The fire destroyed 11 structures near Last Chance. At least four of the structures that were leveled were homes. Nine of the structures that were devoured by the flames were in Last Chance itself a tiny town at the intersection of highways 36 and 71. The fire is 100% contained, fire officials reported Tuesday morning. Officials say the fire was started when a tire came loose from a passing car. Sparks from the tire's rim ignited the surrounding brush.

Chimney Rock Fire, in an area already besieged by wildfires, another broke out Monday afternoon near Chimney Rock Archaeological Area. The archaeological area has been evacuated. The fire is in Cabezon Canyon about two miles south of Colorado Highway 151. It was started by a downed power line. The fire is approximately one acre in size; it is making a run, burning in piñon/juniper and oak brush. A single engine airtanker, helicopters and engines are all responding. The evacuation notice for Chimney Rock Archaeological Area was lifted Monday afternoon. Durango Interagency Fire Dispatch reported the 151 Fire contained, with a perimeter established around the entire burn area.

Flagstaff Fire, Boulder County emergency crews are battling a 6-acre blaze now named the Flagstaff Fire near Bison Drive in the Walker Ranch area. The fire near the 1500 block of Bison Drive is slow-moving, with flames about 2 to 3 feet high and was reported around 1:15 PM. Twenty-six evacuation notices have been issued for Bison Drive and the Pine Needle Notch Subdivision, and an evacuation center has been established at New Vista High School at 700 20th Street near Broadway and Baseline Road. One chopper already has arrived at the fire, and a heavy air tanker and two more helicopters are headed to the fire, according to scanner traffic. Fires have also been reported near Greenbriar and Lehigh roads and in the area of Diagonal and Mineral between Boulder and Longmont, but the Bison Drive fire is the only fire not out or contained at the moment. The fire has grown as of 4:45PM to 300 to 600 acres. Pre-Evacuations orders have been issued in the city of Boulder for the Table Mesa are down to S. Broadway.