Official Thread for all 2016 Colorado Fire Season Topics (Leadville, Hayden: homes, camping)

[DOUBLE H]

This isn't a thread I enjoy starting, BUT-------

The dry conditions and the high winds throughout the state over the last several days are concerning to say the least.

Here's what I have for now:

The Beaver Creek fire is north of Walden near the Wyoming border. That part of the state is pretty remote and services are sparse. The fire started on June 19th and has burned 16,800 acres to date. Only 5% containment with over 150 firefighters fighting it.

The Hayden Pass fire is located several miles from Coaldale in Fremont County. The hot winds pushed the count to over 5,000 acres.

The Lodgepole fire is a little south of Leadville, it has been contained. Only about 20 acres burned but western slope NSC affiliate KKCO said high winds were in that are this morning.

And then there is the fire in the Nederland area. Suzco started a thread on that situation a couple days ago.

Suzco, can you give us the latest on Nederland?

[Yakscsd]

Here is one reasonable source of fire updates. There are many others, but some of them are aimed more at the technical aspects of fire behavior and control. This one appears to be more of a layman's summary.

Colorado – Wildfire Today

[suzco]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

This isn't a thread I enjoy starting, BUT-------

The dry conditions and the high winds throughout the state over the last several days are concerning to say the least.
. . .
And then there is the fire in the Nederland area. Suzco started a thread on that situation a couple days ago.

Suzco, can you give us the latest on Nederland?

It's brutal. Still zero containment.

The Cold Springs Fire
606 acres burned; 5 homes destroyed; 2000 evacuated; 2 arrested

Firefighters are hoping for more forgiving weather today as they enter the third day of fighting the Cold Springs Fire near Nederland, a fire that already has consumed more than 600 acres. . .

[interloper1138]

Just an update on the Hayden Pass fire - it's now reported to be over 10,000 acres.

[Neditate]

As you probably know by now, Cold Springs fire is 100% contained and all evacuees allowed back home. I am grateful beyond measure to the firefighters, hot shot teams, National Guard, all first responders involved - and Xcel for restoring power so quickly.
The fire came within a mile of our home. I've lived up here for 20 years and this was the closest call we've had.

[Neditate]

Four active fires: InciWeb the Incident Information System: COLORADO Incidents

[elan]

Just came down from Bear Lake Campground (off Highway 12, near Cordova Pass). Smoke east/northeast of Highway 12, looks small, but helicopter up.

[Neditate]

Apparently FIRE BAN signs everywhere cannot stop people who think rules don't apply to them.
We've reported two illegal campfires in the past 2 weeks and have heard that since the Cold Springs fire there have been at least a dozen reports of illegal campfires.
There was a small wildland fire north of Nederland last night at a dispersed camping area. Fortunately crews were able to put it out quickly. Thank goodness everyone up here is vigilant!

[brightdoglover]

^^^^
What is wrong with people for heaven's sake...

[StarrySkiesAbove]

We are under a fire ban and have had issues with illegal fires too, fire department says the problem is mostly from homeless long term campers rather than recreational campers. :-(