Snowstorm not enough to end fire danger in county
As the 10,105-Calwood Fire remains at 76% containment, officials said crews would continue to monitor it and the Lefthand Canyon Fire because the snowfall over the weekend did not put the county out of risk of more fire activity.
A winter storm dropped 13 inches of snow on the Calwood Fire over Sunday and Monday, according to a Monday evening update. However, that snowfall is equivalent to about 1 inch of rain, according to National Weather Service Boulder.
According to the post, the storm was a “welcome relief to the high fire danger” the area has recently experienced, but the moisture is not enough to lift the area’s drought.
Officials stated in the post they expect to most of the snow to melt by the end of the week, except on the northwestern slope of the Calwood Fire.
“That is beneficial to the CalWood Fire as the last active section of the fire’s edge is in the South St. Vrain Canyon along (Colo.) 7,” the post stated.
Officials stated in a Monday morning update that crews would continue attacking that area after the weather, which forced them to take a “tactical
pause” on Sunday lifted.
“Minimal activity was seen across the fire on Sunday due to the winter storm,” officials wrote in an update Monday morning. “Minimal heat and smoke were observed as containment lines continue to hold. Temperatures are expected to drop on Monday morning as a cold front continues to move through the area.”
There are currently 374 people working the fire, which has now been burning for a little more than a week.
Evacuations were lifted last week, and the estimated structure toll remains at 27 structures or properties with 20 homes lost.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, the nearby Lefthand Canyon Fire did not display any growth and remains 100% contained with 20 personnel assigned to the fire just outside Ward.