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Colorado wildfire updates for Saturday, August 3, 2024
Wildfires in Colorado have killed one person, damaged or destroyed more than 50 buildings and forced the evacuation of thousands of people across the Front Range.
Together, the wildfires — one of which is the subject of an active arson investigation — have burned nearly 15,000 hectares of land in the state, making resources scarcer as warm weather worsens fire conditions.
All four major fires currently burning – the Quarry Fire in Jefferson County, the Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County, the Stone Canyon Fire in Boulder and Larimer Counties and the Bucktail Fire in Montrose County – started this week and were growing rapidly , fueled by hot, dry weather and dry ground conditions.
Click here to go to a specific brand: Quarry fire | Alexanderberg Fire | Stone Canyon Fire | Bucktail fire | Map of wildfires
Quarry fire near Deer Creek Canyon
- Access to the latest evacuation map here
Last updated at 10:15 am
The quarry fire grew 20 to 30 hectares overnight, bringing the total fire area to about 500 hectares, fire officials said Saturday morning.
Jefferson County sheriff’s detectives continue to search for clues about who started the fire after announcing Friday morning that an arson investigation is underway. They have not indicated whether they suspect the fire was started intentionally or accidentally.
Investigators said the fire started in Deer Creek Canyon Park above Grizzly Drive, where the trail has several switchbacks.
“The reason this is an arson investigation is because we preliminarily believe this fire was somehow man-made,” said Kevin Bost, division chief of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office’s criminal investigation division.
Officials declined Saturday to release any other information about the investigation into the arson and whether they had identified any suspects. They asked anyone with tips or home security camera footage that could be helpful to call the tip line at 303-271-5612.
As of Saturday morning, the fire remained a quarter mile from the nearest home and was 10% contained, said Mark Techmeyer, spokesman for the Jefferson County sheriff’s office. Fire crews continued to work in neighborhoods spraying water and pulling anything flammable from buildings.
The areas of Deer Creek Mesa, Kuehster, McKinney Ranch, Murphy Gulch, Sampson and Maxwell remained under mandatory evacuation orders Saturday, according to the county’s evacuation map.
The neighborhoods of Hilldale Pines, Oehlmann Park, Silver Ranch, West Ranch, Homestead and Silver Ranch South are under prior evacuation notice.
Deer Creek Canyon Park, South Valley Park, Hildebrand Ranch Park and Reynolds Park are closed until further notice for fire suppression operations, county open space officials said.
Even after evacuation orders are lifted, Techmeyer said area roads will remain closed to control traffic and prioritize getting people back home safely.
Techmeyer said residents should not fly personal drones or cameras over the fire, and sheriff’s investigators are tracking down someone who has repeatedly violated Federal Aviation Administration restricted airspace.
When other planes and drones fly over the fire, the helicopters and air tankers that drop water and fire retardant material on the flames should land, Techmeyer said.
Alexander Mountain fire near Loveland
- Access to the latest evacuation map here
Last updated at 9:38 am
The Alexander Mountain fire on private and national forest land west of Loveland has charred more than 9,500 acres, fire officials said Saturday.
As of Friday evening, the 9,530-acre fire had destroyed nearly 50 homes and buildings and damaged another four, according to a news release from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
The burned homes were found along Cedar Creek Road, Spruce Mountain Drive, Green Ridge Road, Possum Court, Palisade Mountain Drive, Snow Top Drive and Bobcat Drive, sheriff’s officials said.
Emergency officials said homeowners in the affected areas, who have not yet been contacted by the sheriff’s office, should call the Damage Assessment Center at 970-980-2800.
As of Saturday morning, 389 firefighters were battling the blaze, focusing on protecting the communities of Cedar Park and Storm Mountain, along with homes and critical infrastructure along US 34.
The land south of U.S. 34 has more wood and fuel to keep the fire burning, and there will be more long-term impacts if the fire crosses the highway, according to fire officials.
From Saturday 9.45 am the rough boundaries of the mandatory evacuation zone included Storm Mountain and Spruce Mountain to the north, the Masonville Stone Quarry and Devil’s Backbone Open Space to the east, Carter Lake Reservoir and Blue Mountain to the south and the end of Hell Canyon Road to the west.
Areas near the Masonville Quarry, Devil’s Backbone Open Space, King’s Revenue Ranch and Carter Lake Reservoir remained under voluntary evacuation orders Saturday morning. according to the evacuation map.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Stone Canyon fire near Lyons
- Access to the latest evacuation map here
Last updated at 10:20 am
The 1,553-acre Stone Canyon Fire near Lyons in Boulder County was 53% contained as of Saturday morning. according to county officials.
The fire killed one person, injured two firefighters and destroyed at least five homes, fire officials said.
County officials confirmed Thursday that human remains were found in a burned building in the 2600 block of Eagle Ridge Road. The person will be identified by the Boulder County Coroner’s Office.
The rough boundaries of the mandatory evacuation zone Saturday included Indian Mountain to the north, Dakota Ridge Road to the east, US 36 in Lyons to the south and Steamboat Mountain to the west.
As of Saturday morning, all of Stone Canyon Drive was reopened to residents and through traffic, but Moss Rock Drive and Moss Rock Court remained closed. county officials said.
Bucktail fire near Nucla
Last updated at 10:30 am
The Bucktail Fire in Montrose County has charred nearly 3,000 acres in two days, according to fire officials.
As of Friday evening, the 2,940-acre wildfire — which started Thursday on private land near Nucla and Uncompahgre National Forest — was 0% contained. firefighters said.
The fire damaged no homes and no evacuations have been ordered.
“It burns in pinyon pine, juniper and oak brush fuel types,” Firefighters said this on Saturday. “It has a very high spreading potential and exhibits active to extreme fire behavior.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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