Colorado wildfire update: Fires burning across the state as of Oct. 23
Photo by Eli Pace / Sky-Hi News
Editor’s note: This is the latest information from InciWeb as of 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23.
Cameron Peak Fire
Location: 15 miles southwest of Redfeather Lakes
Size: 206,977 acres
Containment: 57%
Start date: Aug. 13
Cause: Under investigation
The Cameron Peak fire grew slightly overnight from 206,667 acres Wednesday evening to 206,977 acres, about 323 square miles, on Thursday morning, according to fire officials. The fire, the largest in Colorado history, is 57% contained.
Cloudy and cooler weather on Thursday morning helped firefighters battle the blaze.
— The Denver Post
East Troublesome Fire
Location: North of Hot Sulphur Springs
Size: 170,163 acres
Containment: 5%
Start date: Oct. 14
Cause: Under investigation
The East Troublesome Fire was over 170,00 acres Thursday evening, according to the latest figures from fire officials.
The fire grew almost 100,000 acres Wednesday night into Thursday, and officials said that growth was unheard of. The fire experienced another 50,000 acres of growth by 5 p.m. Thursday.
Grand Lake has reported there was no known structural damage within Grand Lake city limits as of 6 p.m. Thursday. This includes the historic Grand Lake Lodge, which has stood for 100 years. However, there has been extensive damage in surrounding neighborhoods.
In a bit of good news, containment lines to the south are holding, and fire officials anticipate more work along the southern front, which is threatening Granby. To the east of Granby, crews are working to build a dozer line from Willow Creek toward the Colorado Highway 125 corridor to prevent further spread to the south toward Granby.
The fire also has crossed U.S. Highway 34 near Grand Lake and moved into Rocky Mountain National Park, which remains closed at this time.
— Sky-Hi News
Pine Gulch Fire
Location: 18 miles north of Grand Junction
Size: 139,007 acres
Containment: 100%
Start date: July 31
Cause: Lightning
On Aug. 27, the Pine Gulch Fire became the largest wildfire in Colorado history, surpassing the Hayman Fire that burned near Colorado Springs in summer 2002.
The Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires have since surged past Pine Gulch in terms of acreage burned at over 200,000 acres. The Pine Gulch Fire is 100% contained.
— Summit Daily staff report
Grizzly Creek Fire
Location: Glenwood Canyon
Size: 32,466 acres
Containment: 91%
Start date: Aug. 10
Cause: Human caused
The latest update from the Grizzly Creek Fire Facebook page Oct. 22 said smoke was visible from the fire from some activity in the Grizzly Creek drainage. About 15 firefighters were working with a helicopter to check its growth.
— Grizzly Creek Fire Facebook page
Middle Fork Fire
Location: 11 miles northeast of Steamboat Springs
Size: 20,194 acres
Containment: 5%
Start date: Sept. 6
Cause: Lightning
Firefighters continue to make progress on containment lines along the south and southwest portions of the fire. Firefighters will continue to build containment lines and extinguish hot spots along the fire perimeter only where safe to insert crews.
The Middle Fork Fire is currently 20,194 acres with 5% containment. Strong gusty winds in areas of fire weakened trees continue to challenge firefighter safety. Firefighters are focusing efforts in areas of the fire that are accessible, and have a high probability of containment success.
— InciWeb
Williams Fork Fire
Location: 15 miles southwest of Fraser in Grand County
Size: 14,670 acres
Containment: 30%
Start date: Aug. 14
Cause: Human caused
The Williams Fork Fire is mapped at 14,670 acres, 30% contained, with 190 personnel assigned to the fire. No evacuation orders, or pre-evacuation notices, are in effect. The fire is expected to continue short-range spotting and single-tree torching Friday with periodic heavy smoke visible. Air support will continue dropping water in the northwest portion of the fire to keep it in check.
— InciWeb
Cal-Wood Fire & Lefthand Canyon fires
Location: Cal-Wood: 3 miles north west of Jamestown in Boulder County; Lefthand: Lefthand Canyon Road east of Ward
Size: Cal-Wood: 10,073 acres; Lefthand: 460
Containment: Cal-Wood: 55%; Lefthand: 100%
Start date: Cal-Wood: Oct. 17; Lefthand: Oct. 18
Cause: Under investigation
Firefighters battling both the Cal-Wood and Lefthand Canyon fires increased containment lines Wednesday, and the fires had minimal growth, fire officials said Thursday morning. The Cal-Wood fire, which has burned 10,073 acres, about 15 square miles, is now 55% contained and the Lefthand Canyon fire, which has burned 460 acres, is 100% contained.
A cold front in the area should help firefighters and another cold front, a stronger one, is expected Sunday. The weather, however, won’t put an immediate end to the fires.
— The Denver Post
Ice Fire
Location: 5 miles west of Silverton
Size: 596 acres
Containment: 30%
Start date: Oct. 19
Cause: Unknown
The fire is located west of Silverton on the north side of the South Mineral Road, and the fire area includes the Ice Lakes Trail and the Clear Lake Road. It is burning in heavy, mixed conifer timber on national forest land. The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation. As of Thursday night, the fire is 596 acres with 30% containment. A local Type 3 Incident Management Team is using a full suppression strategy on the fire with a mix of hand crews, engines and aviation assets.
— InciWeb
Thorpe Fire
Location: 2 miles southwest of Tarryall in Park County
Size: 159 acres
Containment: 100%
Start date: Aug. 23
Cause: Unknown
The Thorpe Fire was called 100% contained Aug. 28. Crews will continue to monitor and patrol the fire perimeter to secure the lines and extinguish any hot spots.
— InciWeb
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