Colorado: First major wildfire erupts near Fort Collins

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Are earlier wildfires part of a new climate norm?

SUMMIT COUNTY — As drought conditions persist in Colorado, the trend toward earlier wildfires continues, with the 1,000-acre Galena Fire threatening homes and requiring the evacuation of at least 50 people near Fort Collins.

News outlets and emergency service agencies are streaming information, photos and links about the fire at the #galenafire hashtag. The latest information from Larimer County is at: http://larimersheriff.org/press-release/galena-fire.

The was first reported by Larimer County Emergency Information at about 1 p.m. on Friday, March 15. The fire is burning near Horsetooth Reservoir, not too far from the edge of last summer’s High Park Fire. The Galena Fire initially threatened the visitor center at Lory State Park.

Larimer County officials said Saturday morning they believe the fire was human-caused and estimated its size between 750 and 1,000 acres. They are expecting additional ground crews and a Type 2 helicopter to help fight the fire during the weekend.

Firefighters reported calmer conditions by late in the evening, but expressed concerns about the potential for gusty winds associated with an incoming weather system. That approaching storm may also deliver some showers and higher humidity to help firefighters get the upper hand on the blaze.

Last year in March, a prescribed fire managed by the Colorado State Forest Service grew out of control in Jefferson County. The Lower North Fork Fire ultimately spread across thousands of acres, destroying homes and killing two peoople.

Summit County also saw a March wildfire last year along Montezuma Road, with firefighters standing on roadside snow berms while battling flames in the adjacent forest. In January, forecasters had to issue an almost unprecedented red flag warning for parts of the Rocky Mountain foothills.

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, forest fires, forests, global warming, wildfires | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

High Park Fire: Firefighters plan to raft along Poudre River to mop up hotspots; hot fire burning moss and lichen

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

83,000-acre fire now 55 percent contained

High Park Fire Larimer County Colorado

A June 23 fire progression map shows the recently burned areas at the High Park Fire in Larimer County.

Deer in a burned area at the High Park Fire in Larimer County, Colorado.

Deer in a burned area at the High Park Fire in Larimer County, Colorado. Photo courtesy InciWeb.org. Click on the image to visit the InciWeb High Park photo gallery.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Robust fire lines at the High Park Fire in Larimer County withstood the test of 43 mph winds Monday, as firefighters stepped up containment of the 83,000-acre wildfire to 55 percent, according to the morning briefing.

Fire operations chief Kole Berriochoa said firefighters had “a very good day,” with only moderate fire activity, including torching of individual trees in the center of the fire. On the southwest corner of the fire, crews were able to connect several containment lines and create defensible space in the vicinity of Pingree Park.

But an unusual string of red flag extreme fire weather days (six in a ros) still poses a threat, as well as a forecast possibility of dry lighting storms that could potentially spark new fires.

Conditions are so hot and dry that even mosses and lichens are burning on granit rock, according to operations chief Jeff Surber.

Tuesday’s efforts will focus on line construction, mop-up and structure protection on the fire’s interior, and firefighters will try to reach otherwise inaccessible spots in Poudre Canyon using river rafts and floatation devices, led by licensed guides.

Read the full update at InciWeb.org.

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, forest fires | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

High Park Fire spreads north; more homes threatened

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Early reports suggest fire may have claimed 4 to 10 more homes

The June 22 High Park Fire map from the Larimer County Sheriff’s office.

High Park fire photo

Smoke from a spot fire flaring up near the Poudre Canyon Narrows, Friday, June 22 at the High Park Fire in Larimer County Colorado. Photo courtesy InciWeb.org. Click on the image to visit the High Park Fire InciWeb gallery.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The High Park Fire in Larimer County, Colorado Friday breached an area previously thought to be mostly contained when it jumped across Poudre Canyon and made a run to the north.

Preliminary and unconfirmed reports from fire officials suggest that an additional four to 10 homes may have been destroyed by the renewed outbreak, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.

The fire became established to the north of the canyon and is threatening several subdivisions, were almost 1,000 emergency evacuation notices were issued late Friday. More red flag extreme fire weather is in the forecast for Saturday. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, forest fires, US Forest Service | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: New emergency evacuations at High Park Fire

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Larimer County wildfire jumps Poudre Canyon, threatens neighborhoods

High Park Fire map.

The High Park Fire as of Friday morning. During the day Friday, the fire jumped across Poudre Canyon to the north, endangering neighborhoods in the area.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Gusty winds pushed the High Park Fire across Poudre Canyon Friday starting a new spot fire that’s now spreading rapidly on the rugged terrain of Sheep Mountain.

Reports trickling out from the evening media briefing, based on preliminary information, suggest that several more homes have been destroyed in the area.

The northward spread of the fire required the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department to issue a total of 992 emergency evacuations covering areas along Highway 14 from Hewlett Rd. and Wild River Rd.,  to include Falls Creek Dr, all of Poudre Park, Wonderful Place, Ray Shoaf Lane and east to Manners Lane.

During an evening briefing, incident commander Bill Hahnenberg said that, overall, firefighters lost ground today, with containment percentage expected to go down overnight, as planes measure the size of the fire’s footprint with infrared photography and sensors.

As of Friday morning, containment was reported at 60 percent; by tomorrow, officials estimate the number may change to as low as 45 percent.

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, forest fires | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: High Park Fire nears 70,000 acres

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Mapped fire size increases by 12 percent overnight

High Par fire perimeter as of June 18. Map courtesy Mark Newby. Click on the image to see the full-size version at Black Ice Geospatial.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Firefighters struggled Wednesday to maintain 55 percent containment at the High Park Fire in Larimer County, making progress in some areas, but watching the fire grow along the western edge, where it’s burning beetle-killed trees and moving into a remote wilderness area with little access for firefighters.

Mapping released Thursday morning showed the size of the fire at more than 68,000 acres, an  increase of about 12 percent from Wednesday.

Winds out of the east pushed the fire to the west and helicopters were brought in early Thursday morning to attack several spot fires out ahead of the main fire front.The goal is to contain the fire south of Highway 14, east of Pingree Park Road, and north of Old Flowers Road. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, forest fires, Forest health | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

High Park Fire grows into Cache La Poudre Wilderness

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Fire 55 percent contained, at nearly 60,000 acres

High Park Fire map

The High Park Fire perimeter as of June 19.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Cooler temperatures and a slight increase in humidity Wednesday may help firefighters gain more ground against the High Park Fire in Larimer County. The fire was reported as 55 percent contained Tuesday evening, but not before it once again jumped Poudre Canyon, requiring a few more new evacuations in the Glacier View area.

Despite the slight change in the weather pattern, with a cold front approaching from the northeast, firefighters are still facing some of the most dangerous fire conditions in recent memory, with fuel moisture measurements at or near record-low levels, and relative humidity extremely low for this time of year.

Details on new evacuations and re-evacuations are online at the Larimer County Sheriff website.

Officials said the fire also grew significantly in the Cache La Poudre Wilderness Area, north of Old Flowers Road, The fire has nearly reached 60,000 acres in size and extreme fire weather the past few days saw the flames double back and burn pockets of fuel within the existing perimeter.

Crews were able to quickly build fire lines around the spot fire on the north side of Poudre Canyon, in the Sheep Mountain area and are also concentrating on structure protection and holding the fire east of Pingree Park Road to prevent growth to the West.

More than 1.700 personnel have been assigned to the fire, with total firefighting costs estimated at $17.3 million so far.

Fire officials said they will be planning and preparing for possible burnout operations on the west side of the fire to prevent more significant growth in that direction. Those activities include the use of tree-felling equipment to remove some fuel from the fire lines before intentionally setting fires to create a burned buffer zone to slow the flames.

Filed under: Colorado, forest fires | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Colorado: Holding the line on the High Park Fire

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Red Flag warning for extreme fire weather continues across western Colorado

The latest daily progression map of the High Park Fire provided by Larimer County.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Firefighters at the High Park Fire faced dangerous conditions Sunday, as afternoon wind gusts of up to 60 mph grounded helicopters and drove the flames into unburned fuels within the fire perimeter.

But for the most part, crews were able to hold established fire lines to keep the fire from growing into new new areas. According to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, the fire did burn about 1,000 acres of unburned area on the southeast side of the fire in the Laurence Creek Lane and Redstone area.

With the southwest winds expected to push the fire to the northwest, many crews were reassigned to maintaining the fire lines on the north side of the fire. The fire was most active Sunday on the southeastern flank where more firefighters were redeployed.

With similar conditions expected to continue Monday, a Red Flag fire weather warning remains in effect across the western half of Colorado. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, forest fires | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Red flag warning prompts change in High Park Fire tactics

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Planned burnouts on western flank of fire put on hold

The latest available map of the High Park Fire, released June 16.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — A Red Flag fire warning for the High Park Fire area and most of western and central Colorado has prompted fire officials to temporarily shift tactics in the battle to control the western edge of the 55,000-acre wildfire in Larimer County.

Previously planned burnout operations to reduce fuel in the fire’s main path will be on hold, incident commander Bill Hahnenberg said during a media briefing Saturday afternoon, explaining that firefighters instead will focus on holding and reinforcing existing containment lines.

Crews have made big strides in controlling the fire the past few days, achieving 45 percent containment; the changing weather conditions will test those fire lines and present new challenges for the more than 1,600 firefighters at the scene. The winds will also make aerial operations difficult, if not impossible at times.

Updates on the fire are online at http://www.larimersheriff.org/. Maps and other updated information are also posted at http://www.larimer.org/highparkfire/. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, forest fires | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Larimer County releases more detailed information on homes destroyed by the High Park Fire

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

1,500 firefighters now battling dangerous Front Range blaze

High Park Fire June 15 map

The June 15 map of the High Park Fire in Larimer County, Colorado. Click on the image to download the full-size pdf version from the Larimer County website.

SUMMIT COUNTY — The 52,000-acre High Park Fire, burning on private, state and federal and in Larimer County, Colorado, is now reported as 20 percent contained. A spot fire on the north side of Poudre Canyon has grown to 200 acres, even with several teams of elite firefighters attacking the fire with aerial support. Fire officials also released the most detailed list so far of structures destroyed by the fire, organized by area:

  • Solider Canyon – 1
  • Missile Silo Rd (29C) – 1
  • Cloudy Pass – 1
  • Picnic Rock – 1
  • Pine Acres – 5
  • Stratton Park – 21
  • Poudre Canyon – 17
  • Spring Valley – 3
  • Old Flowers – 1
  • Whale Rock – 40
  • Paradise Park – 12
  • Tip Top – 2
  • Rist Creek – 7
  • Total to Date – 112 (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, forest fires, forests | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, forest fires | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Next Page »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 5,562 other followers