Official Thread for all 2012 Colorado Fire Season Topics (weather, good)

[suzco]

And the fire season is still not over; another new one:

Fire prompts evacuations in Wetmore area

WETMORE, Colo. - A fire in Wetmore west of Pueblo has prompted hundreds of evacuations.

Custer County sheriff's officials say they are working to evacuate the town of Wetmore as the fire spreads in high winds, and Pueblo County sheriff's officials say they are evacuating 308 homes in their jurisdiction.

9NEWS sister station KOAA is reporting at least three structures have been destroyed.
. . .
The Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center reports the fire was about 30 to 40 acres Tuesday afternoon. . .

[Josseppie]

I was going to post about this as the smoke is really bad in the city of Pueblo.


This is from the east side of Pueblo looking west.



This is a video I made of the smoke coming to Pueblo. In the video I say the fire is in Pueblo West as that was the rumor at the time.

[McGowdog]

This one was a shocker, but not too surprising with the wind. And to think that in a couple of days we'll be down in the 20s.

[suzco]

The fire season still isn't over - here we are nearing the end of November, it's dry and windy, there are red flag warnings - a small wildfire broke out:

Firefighters control wind-driven wildfire near Loveland

Crews from across Northern Colorado raced Saturday morning to tame a fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire near a subdivision at Carter Lake southwest of downtown Loveland. . .
Crews from Berthoud, Loveland, Fort Collins, Johnstown, Windsor, Larimer County and the state were on scene and had the fire about 75 percent contained by noon Saturday. . .

[Neditate]

It has been terribly dry and windy. Boulder only received 0.8 inches of snow in November, compared to an average of a foot of snow, according to Boulder meteorologist Matt Kelsch. There was a small wildland fire near Boulder yesterday which fortunately was quickly extinguished.
The Fern Lake fire in RMNP has caused evacuations and closures on the east side of the park.
Cabin lost in Fern Lake Fire near Estes Park in Larimer County; evacuations remain in effect | 9news.com
Winds push an increase in Fern Lake Fire activity: evening gusts could hit 75 mph   - Estes Park Trail-Gazette
Boulder County fire officials worried about warm, dry conditions - Boulder Daily Camera

[Idunn]

The Fern Lake Fire in Rocky Mountain National Park is not only still burning, but spreading. A ranger with RMNP told me this afternoon that this wildfire may burn into Estes Park this evening; although I believe exaggerating, as also saying that current closures should be lifted in the next day or two. From several weeks ago, this wildfire has more than doubled in size, with presently about 3,700 acres having burned, and roughly 40 percent containment (theoretically).

The recent strong winds have hardly helped, and surely responsible for the present state of this wildfire, which has prompted the evacuation of residents from along Highway 66, which would include the YMCA of the Rockies, and also closure of the main entrance of the park at Beaver Meadows, as well as the north entrance. The RMNP ranger I talked with could give no reasonable reason for such a widespread closure, as the Endo Valley accessed from the north entrance remains unaffected, with neither any staging for the fire there; but that is what they have peremptorily done with your public park.

Also, apparently building fire lines along Bear Lake Road and possibly elsewhere in Moraine Valley, in contravention as stewards of this designated wilderness area to leave it "untrammeled" by the hand of man. With man in this instance not only responsible for the conditions having caused this fire, but now abusing your park further towards their fire fighting goals.

Other areas of RMNP remain accessible, such as the trailheads leading into the Mummy Range, accessed off of County Road 43, in driving north from Estes Park.

It might be noted it is December 4.

Further information can be found here:
Fern Lake fire: Tuesday update - Longmont Times-Call

[Idunn]

As an interesting side note, mentioned in a previous reference[1], that the area of the current Fern Lake Fire in RMNP had not burned in 1,000 years.

This may be incorrect, and certainly warrants verification. 200 years ago the Lewis and Clark expedition had only recently returned from the coast of the Pacific Northwest, and Colorado largely the haunt of only Native Americans. Even 100 years ago Estes Park was only a small hamlet, the official founding of RMNP years in the future, with little European influence in this mountainous region. Any fire suppression techniques employed would have been primitive at best, with common forest husbandry elsewhere in mining camps simply to clear cut that desired from nearby forests. So 1,000 years represents well over 800 years of this land doing exactly as it would, save any errant influence or campfire gone wrong from natives.

And apparently not a single wildfire in this region which presumably sees fires on a regular basis as part of the natural cycle.

Yet in well less than 200 years, and really less than 100, apparently the fire suppression techniques of Europeans have caused such a growth in natural underbrush and forest debris that it is ripe for combustion?

1) 'Cabin lost in Fern Lake Fire near Estes Park in Larimer County; evacuations remain in effect,' 9 News
Cabin lost in Fern Lake Fire near Estes Park in Larimer County; evacuations remain in effect | 9news.com

(see about the 5:25 minute mark for the 1,000 year remark)

[Idunn]

All trail and area restrictions due the Fern Lake Fire have been lifted in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Due recent snow the potential of this still existing wildfire spreading is low, but visible smoke might still be seen at times. This fire is 88% contained, having thus far burned 3,498 acres. Mention is made of the Forest Canyon area not having burned in 800 years; another previous reference had that at 1,000 years.

Certain cautions are advised for hikers in the area, due results of this fire. Further information available here:

Trail closures lifted after snow reduces Fern Lake fire spread - Loveland Reporter-Herald

[Josseppie]

There is fire by Lake Minnequa in Pueblo. I am not sure how it started but it has been going for a few hours now. The lake is on the south side of Pueblo by St. Mary Corwin Regional Medical Center however its far enough away so its not a threat to the hospital.

Here are two pictures I took of the fire.





Finally a very short video I made.

[Mike from back east]

Can somebody please recap the fires that are still burning or smoldering from 2012?

Once we get that we can close this thread and move to the 2013 version.

Thanks to all.