Wildfire News and Discussion

Early season wildfires wreak havoc in the West

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57587225/early-season-wildfires-wreak-havoc-in-the-west/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Firefighting teams in California and New Mexico are battling early season wildfires that have blackened thousands of acres and threatened homes and building, spurring numerous evacuations.


Residents of more than 1,000 homes were ordered to leave as erratic winds pushed a wildfire closer to two foothill communities, where officials said five structures, possibly homes, were destroyed Saturday........more......

p.s. thanks for the weather forum!
 
AccuWeather.com ‏@breakingweather 32m
The Powerhouse Wildfire has tripled in size from Saturday night into Sunday. Find out more: http://ow.ly/lDen8
 
Southern Calif. wildfire destroyed 24 residences

http://www.centurylink.net/news/rea...p-southern_calif_wildfire_destroyed_24_res-ap

PALMDALE, Calif. (AP) — Officials now say 53 structures including 24 residences were destroyed by the big wildfire in northern Los Angeles County...........

Containment has increased to 83 percent on the 47-square-mile blaze.......

The estimated cost of fighting the fire has risen to $11.4 million.
 
At least four major wildfires broke out along the front of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado Tuesday, burning a handful of houses and chasing people from thousands of homes in hot, gusty weather.

Thick smoke plumes visible for miles billowed from fires near Colorado Springs, in southern Colorado, and in Rocky Mountain National Park to the north.

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Video from a helicopter showed several large homes engulfed in flames. Maketa said about eight homes had burned but had no exact number because the fire was moving so quickly across parched forest.

-----------------

Three helicopters were battling the Black Forest Fire, he said. The area is not far from last summer's devastating Waldo Canyon Fire that destroyed 346 homes and killed two.

"It's very, very reminiscent of what we experienced in Waldo Canyon," Maketa said.

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=25557273&n...ctures-in-colorado&fm=home_page&s_cid=queue-3
 
Colorado fires scorch state; thousands evacuated

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/12/us/colorado-fires/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

CNN) -- Fast-moving wildfires lit up central Colorado, forcing thousands from their homes and scorching some 12,000 acres of brush and timber.

Of the five fires burning, the most problematic was the Black Forest Fire.

Tinder-dry conditions and gusty winds fueled the fire, just northeast of Colorado Springs, prompting mandatory evacuations over an area covering 24,000 acres and about 5,000 homes.

"Complacency is a dangerous gamble," El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said. "Be prepared to leave and leave orderly."

At least 7,500 acres had burned by late Tuesday

Watch this video .........
 
Colorado wildfire forces prison evacuation

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57588860/colorado-wildfire-forces-prison-evacuation/

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.A wildfire forced the evacuation of more than 900 prisoners at a state prison southwest of Colorado Springs early Wednesday, one of four blazes across the Front Range that destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands of people to flee........

All the fires were moving quickly, driven by record temperatures and strong winds. The conditions were making it difficult to build containment lines around the fires, and sparks jumped across them.

"Weather is not working with us right now, but our guys are giving it a heck of a shot," Maketa said.

The fire outside Colorado Springs was listed as having zero containment, reports the CBS affiliate there, KKTV......

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized federal funds to defray costs of fighting the Black Forest and Royal Gorge fires.

"There is nobody backing away and saying we're not going to attack this with everything that we've got," Gov. John Hickenlooper said at a news conference late Tuesday.
 
Colorado wildfire destroys at least 360 homes

A wildfire in a dry, densely wooded area of Colorado has destroyed at least 360 homes – nearly four times the previous estimate and a number that seemed likely to climb as the flames kept burning out of control, authorities said Thursday.

The tally of lost homes was a dramatic increase from Wednesday evening, when 92 homes were listed as gone. The blaze in the Black Forest area northeast of Colorado Springs is now the most destructive in Colorado history, surpassing last year's Waldo Canyon fire, which burned 347 homes, killed two people and led to $353 million in insurance claims.

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=25576175&n...east-360-homes-&fm=home_page&s_cid=featured-3
 
Steady rain falls as crews work against Colo. fire

http://www.centurylink.net/news/rea...p-colo_wildfire_evacuees_see_destruction_f-ap

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — With evacuees anxious to return, firefighters worked Sunday to dig up and extinguish hot spots to protect homes spared by the most destructive wildfire in Colorado's history.

The labor-intensive work is necessary because extremely dry grass and trees could quickly ignite if wind stirs up hot spots in the densely wooded Black Forest near Colorado Springs.

Firefighters did get some help from the weather as steady rain moved through the area Sunday afternoon. But that weather came with some lightning, which sparked a small grass fire near one home.

"Every bit of rain helps the crews mop up. It's just adding another nail in the coffin," fire spokesman Brandon Hampton said.

Nearly 500 homes have been burned by the 22-square-mile fire, which is 65 percent contained. Crews hope to have it fully under control by Thursday..........

Additionally, the death of two unidentified people trying to flee the fire was still being investigated. Maketa said he was in no rush to have people return to an area that, at least for now, was still being considered a crime scene.

"I'm not going to compromise the evidence by allowing people in too soon," he said.....more at link/ 3p....
 
Neighbors: Couple killed waited for order to leave

http://centurylink.net/news/read/ca...ap-authorities_name_casualties_in_colorado-ap

DENVER (AP) — Bob and Barbara Schmidt dashed to their home on a dirt road in a heavily wooded area northeast of Colorado Springs as smoke from what would become the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history filled the air.

After quickly grabbing a few items, they spotted their neighbors.

"They were sitting on their porch, watching TV," said Bob Schmidt, adding that his wife urged their neighbors to immediately flee as smoke rolled in at 4:35 p.m. on June 11. "They said they'd leave when they needed to."

The couple, Marc and Robin Herklotz, told the Schmidts they hadn't gotten automated calls from authorities ordering them to evacuate and that, while they were packing and monitoring the approaching blaze on TV, they weren't panicking.

On Tuesday, authorities announced that the lone casualties of the Black Forest Fire were the Herklotzes, whose bodies were found in their garage on Jicarilla Drive by their car, as if they were trying to flee...........

More at link....
 
Fire threatens Colorado mountain town of 400

http://www.centurylink.net/news/rea...p-massive_wildfire_headed_toward_colo_moun-ap


South Fork, home to about 400 full-time residents, was evacuated as the 47-square-mile acre West Fork Fire moved closer. Wildland firefighters were teaming up with local firefighters to try to save the town, which is surrounded by the Rio Grande National Forest.

Fire spokesman Penny Bertram said officials rate the chances of saving the town of about 400 full-time residents as "low to moderate."
 
Neighbors: Couple killed waited for order to leave

http://centurylink.net/news/read/ca...ap-authorities_name_casualties_in_colorado-ap

DENVER (AP) — Bob and Barbara Schmidt dashed to their home on a dirt road in a heavily wooded area northeast of Colorado Springs as smoke from what would become the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history filled the air.

After quickly grabbing a few items, they spotted their neighbors.

"They were sitting on their porch, watching TV," said Bob Schmidt, adding that his wife urged their neighbors to immediately flee as smoke rolled in at 4:35 p.m. on June 11. "They said they'd leave when they needed to."

The couple, Marc and Robin Herklotz, told the Schmidts they hadn't gotten automated calls from authorities ordering them to evacuate and that, while they were packing and monitoring the approaching blaze on TV, they weren't panicking.

On Tuesday, authorities announced that the lone casualties of the Black Forest Fire were the Herklotzes, whose bodies were found in their garage on Jicarilla Drive by their car, as if they were trying to flee...........

More at link....

How awful! I remember Santa Ana winds in California spreading fire at an incredible speed. By the time the couple realized their predicament it was too late to flee.

I sure hope the little town in Colorado heeds the warnings and everyone leaves.
 
http://www.centurylink.net/news/rea...p-massive_wildfire_headed_toward_colo_moun-ap

Update on this link:

SOUTH FORK, Colo. (AP) — A massive wildfire threatened a tourist town in Colorado's southwestern mountains on Friday, forcing its roughly 400 residents to flee ahead of the fast-burning blaze fueled by hot, windy weather.

Wildland firefighters teamed up with local firefighters to try to protect South Fork, which is surrounded by the Rio Grande National Forest. State authorities said the 47-square-mile fire is about seven miles southwest of town and has been advancing at a rate of about a mile an hour. Thick smoke was limiting visibility.

Fire spokeswoman Penny Bertram wouldn't speculate on the likelihood of the town burning. There's a high probability of the fire reaching the town if the fire continues to behave as it has, though crews were staging resources to protect its buildings, she said.........

Over 30 fire engines have been stationed near the town to protect it. An air tanker was also able to drop slurry ahead of the fire to try to slow its growth and giving firefighters a chance to dig a fire break, Bertram said.......

Residents were being sent to a high school in a neighboring town.

South Fork's mayor, Kenneth Brooke, sent his children and grandchildren to a safe location and stayed behind, helping several dozen area fire responders prepare for hosing down structures.

Brooke said authorities are allowing him to stay in South Fork until the blaze crests a nearby mountain, expected Friday afternoon. Until then, the mayor was taking phone calls from nervous neighbors and telling them the town's grim forecast.

"I just tell them it doesn't look good," Brooke told The Associated Press by phone Friday. "I tell them the truth, that the fire is coming. I just tell them to keep themselves safe, evacuate as need be and don't come back.

More.....
 
Fire Rages, Colo. Town Braces for Long Evacuation

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/fire-rages-colo-town-braces-long-evacuation-19468411#.UcdxyynD9jq

A colossal wildfire near a popular summer retreat in southern Colorado continues to be driven by winds and fueled by dead trees in a drought-stricken area, authorities said Sunday.

The weather has prevented fire crews from making progress on the blaze, which grew overnight to 108 square miles, up from 100 on Saturday. The speed with which the fire has spread is exceptional: It was just below 50 square miles Friday evening.

No structures have been lost in the fire, and no injuries have been reported.

It is doubtful fire crews could establish any containment lines until there's a break in the weather, possibly Tuesday, officials said. They remained optimistic they can protect the town, however.......

Elsewhere in Colorado, about a dozen fires also continued to burn. Firefighters were making progress on a 19-square-mile wildfire near Walsenburg in southern Colorado. The fire was 10 percent contained.

And a wildfire in foothills about 30 miles southwest of Denver was expected to be fully contained Sunday evening. That fire burned 511 acres and forced 100 people to leave their homes.
 

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