Around Colorado: This season’s blazes harken back to 2002, while campfires on the Fourth of July aren’t allowed.
Two of this season’s wildfires have been in “exceptional drought” areas
Exceptional drought conditions, single-digit humidity and extreme heat have combined to produce one of the state’s worst wildfire seasons, with two of the largest wildfires in state history still growing in southern Colorado. And, it’s just the beginning of summer.
The 2018 fire season is already shaping up to be a repeat of 2002, when drought conditions generated two of the largest wildfires in Colorado history: The 137,760acre Hayman fire and the 71,739acre Missionary Ridge fire near Durango.
Colorado in 2002 was suffering the second worst drought in 50 years.
The snowpack on April 1, 2002, was only 53 percent of normal, according to a report by Colorado State University. By late July 2002, Colorado was near the epicenter of an extensive regional drought, the CSU report says. The devastating 2002 fire season produced the highest number of wildfires since 1950.
In 2018, there have been a dozen wildfires reported across the state.
The two largest have been in “exceptional drought” areas, a level above extreme drought, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System.
Only three wildfires in the last 68 years have been larger than the Spring Creek fire.
The 78,941-acre Spring Creek fire, the fourth-largest Colorado wildfire, is burning in Huerfano and Costilla counties. The 52,778acre 416 fire, the sixth-largest Colorado wildfire, is burning 13 miles north of Durango.
More than 147,000 acres have already been scorched in the fires currently burning across Colorado.
A look at the wildfires burning in Colorado.
The fire has cost $27.8 million to date, fire officials said Tuesday. The blaze is 37 percent contained and all La Plata County pre-evacuation orders have been lifted.
On Tuesday, firefighters worked on improving firelines near Purgatory Ski Resort, in case the fire approaches the resort. The fire is not expected to challenge the lines over the next few days, fire officials said, and the blaze may not test the lines if forecasted rains arrive later in the week.
Durango’s weather forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of rain on Thursday and Friday night, with a 30 percent chance for moisture on Thursday night and Friday.
There’s a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms through the weekend.
Spring Creek fire
The fire has destroyed at least 104 residences.
Burning in Costilla and Huerfano counties, the fire has exploded in thousandacre increments recently fueled by Red Flag fire warning conditions. Evacuee orders remain in place because of the fast-moving fire.
The fire on Monday made a “significant run” along the ridgeline north of Raspberry Mountain, fire officials said Tuesday, with flames shooting more than 300 feet high. The fire continues to follow heavy fuels, moving downslope eastward toward Highway 12 north of Pine Haven.
Weston Pass fire
Firefighting efforts on Tuesday focused on protecting the Campground of the Rockies Association, a private RV Ranch located on U.S. 285 south of Fairplay. It is a 600-acre RV village and campground, rang- ing in elevation from 9,000 to 9,700 feet. The fire is about a mile northwest of the campground. A structure protection plan was “nearing completion” Tuesday afternoon, fire officials said.
Meanwhile, “mop up” operations continued Tuesday to “further secure” a section on the northeast end of the fire in the Rich Creek and Lynch Creek areas, and the northeast section along U.S. 285.
On Tuesday, 412 firefighters were battling the Weston Pass fire, which has burned more than 9,300 acres.
Chateau fire
The fire, burning in the Pike National Forest, has scorched more than 1,300 acres. More than 400 “first responders” were working Tuesday on the fire, according to the Teller County Sheriff’s Office. The blaze is about 7 miles northwest of Cripple Creek.
Roads closed in the area include Teller County Roads 11, 12 and 111; County Road 1 is closed from Deer Mountain to County Road 11.
Firefighters on Tuesday battled an active fire fueled by 80-degree weather, humidity in the low teens and winds gusting up to 45 mph. Thunderstorms late in the day did not bring significant moisture.
A Red Flag fire warning for the area was posted by the National Weather Service through 8 p.m. Tuesday because of weather conditions including dry lightning strikes.
The fire was estimated to be about 15 percent contained Tuesday.
Adobe fire
Pike and San Isabel national forests are reporting that at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the Adobe fire was at 85 acres. Pre-evacuation orders are in effect south of County Road 15 in Fremont County to the Custer County line.
They have closed the area between Highway 96 and Oak Creek Road as well as along the west and east forest boundary lines.
So far, fire crews have utilized five air tankers and three helicopters to aid the teams working on the ground.