(Pine Gulch Fire)
COLORADO – New evacuations are being ordered near Douglas Pass because of the Pine Gulch Fire burning near Grand Junction. It’s now the second-largest fire in state history after it grew to over 125-thousand acres yesterday and that very well could change soon.
(Pine Gulch Fire)
The biggest fire in the state’s history is currently the Hayman Fire in 2002. It started on June 8th, 2002, and burned 138, 114 acres, and killed one person. 133 homes were destroyed. The Hayman Fire was finally contained on July 18th,2002.
(Hayman Fire 2002)
The Grizzly Creek Fire continues to rage through the area near Glenwood Springs with over 29-thousand acres burned. I-70 remains closed and at this point, CDOT says they’re not sure when the interstate can be re-opened. Bridges have to undergo inspections and rockfalls are a continuing issue at this time. The highway is closed between Glenwood Springs and Dotsero.
(Grizzly Creek Fire)
The Cameron Peak Fire has burned well over 14-thousand acres in western Larimer County. Fire activity on Wednesday was a little better than expected after the area saw a little bit of rainfall. Despite the rain, it was still windy and the gusty conditions tossed burning embers across Highway 14 near Joe Wright Reservoir. Heavy equipment work is nearing completion across the north end of the fire area and down Manhattan road, and that work is also progressing down the Pingree Park Road. The fire is located about four-miles from Rocky Mountain National Park.
(Cameron Peak Fire)
The Williams Fork Fire burning near Frasier seemed to gain a little stability on Wednesday with no new growth. The fire has burned over 66-hundred acres.
(Williams Fork Fire)
Meanwhile, if you’re wondering where the Colorado Springs-based Global Supertanker is, it’s in California, where hundreds of thousands of acres are on fire in the state. The Supertanker can’t be used here until it’s released from its duties there. Fire managers aren’t even sure if they’d use the giant converted 747 to help with the fires. They say smaller aircraft may be more efficient in some of the areas at high altitude.
