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Firefighters at Pingree Park break down their Spike Camp. Photo courtesy CSU.
Firefighters continue to mop up hot spots within perimeter
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — Federal incident commanders and local emergency officials Saturday declared the 87,284-acre High Park Fire 100 percent contained and lifted all evacuation orders for the area, allowing some residents to return home.
Others will have to decide if they want to rebuild; the fire destroyed 259 homes, including 52 in the Davis Ranch area, and 53 in the Glacier View area.
The aftermath will also include a massive rehab effort to mitigate the threat of mudslides and flash floods on the burned ground when the summer rains come.
The fire continues to smolder within the perimeter, and record low fuel moisture could lead to rapid fire growth if a spot fire starts outside the perimeter.
Crews will continue to work on quelling any last hot spots and rehabilitate fire lines. As of Saturday, more than 600 firefighters were still in the area, but some of the crews have been re-assigned to other fires in the area.
The fire burned about half on national forest land and half on private and state land and cost more than $30 million.
Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, forest fires Tagged: | Colorado, Colorado wildfires 2012, High Park Fire contained
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