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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: Colorado wildfires, High Park Fire, High Park fire map, Larimer County Colorado, red flag fire warning | Leave a Comment »
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