High Park Fire grows by 10,000 acres

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Firefighters struggling to maintain containment in extreme fire conditions

High Park Fire Map june 22

An evening update of the basic InciWeb.org High Park Fire map shows the large new area (10,000 acres) north of the Poudre River that burned in the past 24 hours.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Hot, dry winds pushed the High Park Fire in Larimer County, Colorado in new directions Friday night and Saturday, as a spot fire north of Poudre Canyon grew to 10,000 acres and threatened numerous neighborhoods in the area, according to the Saturday evening update from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. (more…)

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Colorado: High Park Fire containment expected by July 8

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Red flag fire weather expected to increase fire activity Friday afternoon

High Park Fire map

High Park Fire, Larimer County, June 21.

High Park Fire picture

A single tree torching on the High Park Fire in Larimer County, Colorado. Photo courtesy USFS. Click to visit the High Park Fire photo gallery at InciWeb.org.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Firefighters are gradually taming the fierce High Park Fire  by burning out fuel in the face of advancing flames, and they hope to have the 68,000-acre fire fully contained by July 8.

Most significantly, fire crews have nearly finished containment lines on the north side, pinching the fire down to a small corner between Pingree Park Road and the Poudre Canyon Road, with more firing operations along the west end of Poudre Canyon Road near Mount McConnel.

As of Thursday, the fire was reported as 60 percent contained, at 68,440 acres. Overall, crews made progress, but a small new spot fire was reported north of Highway 14, resulting in a few new pre-evacuation alerts between Pingree Park Road and Glen Echo.

On the west flank, firing operations are done from the junction of Highway 14 and Pingree Park Road south to Jack’s Gulch. Crews will continue the work to let the fire burn more moderately down to Old Flowers Road. Firing operations help firefighters to remove fuels between established containment lines and the fire’s edge which lessens the chance of the fire making a rapid push.

Nationally, the wildfire season continues to be below average for this time of year. The National Interagency Fire Center is reporting that about 25,000 wildfires have burned for the year to-date, compared to the average 35,000 fires. The acreage burned is also below average, at about 1.2 million acres compared to the average 1.8 million acres.

The current cost of fighting the High Park Fire to-date is estimated at $21.6 million dollars.  There are 1,859 fire personnel, 18 helicopters (includes 3 Blackhawks), 9 bulldozers and 135 engines assigned to the fire. Some of the resources originally assigned to the fire will start to demobilize June 24.

 

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High Park Fire grows to 52,000 acres, 15 percent contained

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Officials confirm destruction of 17 homes in Poudre Canyon area; Larimer County opening disaster recovery center

High Park Fire map June 14

High Park Fire daily progression map, June 13, 2012.

High Park Fire, aerial firefighting

A helicopter scoops water at the High Park Fire in Larimer County, Colorado. Click to visit the High Park Fire InciWeb photo gallery.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Firefighters continued to make progress in containing some parts of the High Park Fire in Larimer County, Colorado, but the fire grew in other areas. Up-to-date maps and daily progression maps are online at Larimer.org/HighParkFire.

Larimer County is opening a one-stop disaster recovery center, where victims of the fire will be able to receive services and get information on County, State, and CSU services. The center opens Friday (June 15) at 7 a.m. 7:00 a.m. at Johnson Hall on the Colorado State University campus in Fort Collins.

More updated information is online at the Larimer County Emergency Services blog. Real-time updates stream at Twitter from @LarimerSheriff and at the #HighParkFire hashtag.

Thursday, strong winds associated with a thunderstorm once again pushed the fire to the north side of Poudre Canyon, requiring a slew of new precautionary evacuations in the Glacier Park area, even as some other residents were able to return home.

Firefighters tackle a hotspot in brush at the High Park Fire, Larimer County, Colorado.

(more…)

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Firefighters gaining ground on Colorado High Park Fire

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

10 percent containment reported; residents refusing evacuation have hampered firefighting efforts in some areas

The High Park Fire is still spreading to the north and west.

Firefighters work to protect a home in the High Park Fire Area. Click on the image to see the InciWeb High Park Fire photo gallery. PHOTO COURTESY INCIWEB.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Firefighters battling the lightning-caused 44,000-acre High Park Fire gained some ground Tuesday, reporting 10 percent containment by the end of Tuesday.

In an evening update, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office also said firefighters were able to protect numerous individual structures still at-risk from the fire. (more…)

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