To view the full map and a table of all wildfires, click here. SALIDA, Colo. (AP) — An active wildfire burning in a rural area of south-central Colorado has prompted new evacuations in Chaffee and Fremont counties. They lauded local businesses like the Fun Street Family Arcade that provided space for a public meeting. She estimated that after Howard was placed under a pre-evacuation order on Oct. 5, she had 20 to 25 customers cancel reservations. The fire has been burning since Sept. 8 when it was started by lightning. Tents for fire crews are setup at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds during the Decker fire on Oct. 9, 2019. The forest supervisor approved those efforts, he said. – Visit CBSDenver.com’s Colorado Wildfire section. The fire has destroyed two structures. It’s a special community.”. That strategy is being adhered to even as more than 700 people — and another 180 firefighters on their way — worked to contain the fire where it is burning near subdivisions along the Arkansas River east of the wilderness on Monday.

“They are making hay while the sun shines today,” Bertram said. That was key for Comstock. Related Articles October 19, 2020 Wildfire … “It was on the other side of the mountain, so it was good. “It’s a mess over there with all that beetle kill and fallen trees. The snowfall bullseye is projected to be just west and north of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, where more than a foot of snow is forecast to fall in areas where the Cameron Peak fire and East Troublesome fire are burning.

While the Decker Fire remains at 8,000 acres and 30 percent containment, it hasn't grown much since blowing up briefly over the weekend. “Tumbling rocks, snags, trees that might fall; the wilderness has a lot of these things.”. Click the map layers icon in the top right corner of the map to change map backgrounds and to toggle active and contained fires.

“I think we should put it out. By Taylor Allen.

“Suppression over the last 100 years has caused a lot of fuels to accumulate, especially in wilderness areas,” Paul Delmerico, operations section chief for the Decker fire, said last week. The map defaults to Colorado; to see all wildfires, click “U.S.” in the view area. They had 50 people watching it burn until it blew up, then they decided to put a lot of resources on it.”. “Are we guardians or gardeners?” Decker fire…, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window). He and his neighbors were evacuated in the early morning hours of Oct. 3. (credit: Facebook/Joel Peters on Decker Fire page), (© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The fire, which was sparked by a lightning strike on Sept. 8, … ), LINKS: Decker Fire Interactive Map | Decker Fire Inciweb. “Everybody had homes. He went back another time to disconnect his hoses, shut off the water and turn up the heat. The snowfall bullseye is projected to be just west and north of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, where more than a foot of snow is forecast to fall in areas where the Cameron Peak fire and East Troublesome fire are burning. OK. Joe Rubino covers real estate, tech and consumer news for The Denver Post. It’s just going to make things slippery without putting any real, wetting moisture on the fire.”. With snow in the forecast for Thursday morning, he didn’t want his pipes to freeze and burst. Marshall and Andrea Carlstrom had their essential belongings ready to go when that call came. It’s on fire,’” Comstock said. By viewing our video content, you are accepting the terms of our. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. Fed by red-flag weather conditions, the fire defied models and grew by more than 1,600 acres that day, according to estimates shared by public information officials on Facebook. As U.S. wilderness policy has shifted toward allowing fires to burn naturally, many people who live in what is known as the “wildland-urban interface” — areas where civilization butts up against protected wild areas — have come to appreciate and encourage a more hands-off approach to wildfire where appropriate, Delmerico said. That doesn’t mean that if the team on the ground doesn’t feel it’s essential to use heavy equipment it won’t be allowed to.

General Map of Colorado … We’re making up for what we believe are the mistakes we’ve made in the past.”. “That’s why it’s out of control right now.

“Our climate is changing and fire is an unpredictable process. As a wilderness area, it has no roads to accommodate fire engines and, in this case, steep, rugged terrain, driving up the danger to crews that would be tasked with hiking in to fight it on foot. Shortly before 10 a.m., a handful of people who live at the base of Methodist Mountain gathered at a checkpoint to await the OK to drive up county roads to their homes. He hopes it will be the last time. The risks of living in the interface zone are frequently communicated by the Forest Service and other agencies. The Decker Fire in south-central Colorado has grown beyond 8,000 acres, as of Sunday evening.

The map shows active and contained wildfires for 2020. Those storms could bring lightning and dangerous microburst winds that could put firefighters in danger.

Rio Grande National Forest U.S. Forest Service 1803 W. Highway 160 Monte Vista, CO 81144 He wrote for the Broomfield Enterprise, Boulder Daily Camera and YourHub before joining the Post's business desk in 2017.

Why have models of Colorado’s coronavirus trajectory been off? GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. The Grand County sheriff confirmed late Friday that an elderly couple who'd refused to evacuate their home as the East Troublesome fire advanced on Grand Lake this week perished in the wildfire. “I told my wife, ‘Take a look at this mountain. The map shows active wildfire locations in 2019. Braun was not optimistic about what the incoming system would do to help fight the Decker Fire. Growing Decker Fire Near Salida Prompts Health Warnings Over Smoke.

*Data comes from two sources, GeoMAC and InciWeb, and could contain inconsistencies. By continuing to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Two Of Colorado's Major Wildfires -- East Troublesome Fire And Cameron Peak Fire -- Could Merge, East Troublesome Fire Grows By Enormous Measure -- 100,000 Acres In A Single Day, VIDEO: Hunter Says Mountain Lion 'Stalked' Him In Colorado Forest, Coloradans Should Be Aware Of Travel Restrictions: 'Flexibility Is The Name Of The Game', More Evacuations Ordered For Communities Near Estes Park Due To East Troublesome Fire, Before And After Pics Show Colorado House Destroyed By East Troublesome Fire, East Troublesome Fire Continues To Threaten Numerous Colorado Communities, Churches Win Federal Court Decision Against Two Of State's COVID-19 Mandates, Family Believes Grandparents Died Near Grand Lake In East Troublesome Fire, East Troublesome Fire Explodes To 170,000 Acres: 'Really Unheard Of'. It’s an ethos that is sure to bang into expanding human development, she said, particularly at this time in Earth’s history. Colorado wildfires update: Latest on the East Troublesome, Cameron Peak and CalWood fires, “Are we guardians or gardeners?” Decker fire highlights debate about how to fight wildfires in wilderness areas, Alarmed by rising hospitalizations, Colorado officials warn of potential for COVID-19 spread over holidays, Decker fire flares despite cold night temps, forcing federal forest officials to pull back 755 firefighters, Decker Fire: As Chaffee County residents return home after evacuations, incoming cold front poses risks to crews fighting blaze, Decker Fire officials say firefighters might start heading home within days but blaze may continue for weeks or months, Map: Wildfires in Colorado and the United States, Couple confirmed dead in East Troublesome fire; family says they “left this world together and on their own terms”, Emergency alerts: How to stay informed about Colorado wildfire evacuations in your area, Colorado wildfires could get 12 to 18 inches of snow this weekend, This website uses cookies to improve your experience.

He wrote for the Broomfield Enterprise, Boulder Daily Camera and YourHub before joining the Post's business desk in 2017. As they waited, they described a frightening — if expected  — situation a week prior. Most of all, they praised their neighbors who gave them places to stay in their hour of need. That gets back to this notion: Are we gardeners or are we guardians?”, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. There is that level of uncertainty in dealing with any natural process,” Ronald said. Decker Fire: As Chaffee County residents return…, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window). Requests are processed quickly when dealing with a large wildfire, Delmerico said. Soot-stained firefighters dragging tangles of branches out of the backcountry to grind up before they become kindling; exasperated residents gathered in community meetings, hanging on every word of weather forecasts out of fear the wind will change and bring fire to their doors; moments of joy and relief when evacuation orders are lifted and people finally get to go home; all are scenes seemingly lived and relived every year in the Centennial State. Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze announced on Tuesday that evacuation orders for their area would be lifted. No crews have been sent into the wilderness to fight the Decker fire on foot.

October 1, 2019. Accumulation is expected to be minimal. OK. Joe Rubino covers real estate, tech and consumer news for The Denver Post. The Sangre de Christo Wilderness, like many parts of … I had no problem with that.”. A bear isn’t a bear anymore if it’s tame and in a zoo. Crews working the Decker Fire have used helicopters to dump water in places in the wilderness where they feel the fire could pose a risk to lives, property or valuable infrastructure and resources if it were to grow, incident commander Mark Giacoletto said Monday. The Grand County sheriff confirmed late Friday that an elderly couple who'd refused to evacuate their home as the East Troublesome fire advanced on Grand Lake this week perished in the wildfire. As of Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service was calling for an overnight low of 36 degrees in Salida with snow showers likely between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday. They thanked the fire crews, the sheriff’s office, the local Methodist church and aid organizations including the American Red Cross. A thorough risk-reward assessment is undertaken before any firefighters are sent into such areas. – See images from the most destructive wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile), the deadliest (Storm King) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history. By continuing to use the site, you accept our, lightning sparked the Decker Fire south of Salida, Chaffee County’s director of public health, California utility will shut down power for 800,000 customers as fire danger peaks. By that time Frank Comstock was already looking out his window. The cold and snow in the forecast pose a safety risk to crews on the ground, Bertram said, mentioning frostbite and exposure. Meanwhile, some people staying with her, many of them older, were breathing potentially dangerous smoke.

As wildfires ravage the state, engulfing homes and forcing thousands to flee flames creeping toward vulnerable communities, Coloradans should know there are multiple avenues for staying informed about evacuation notices depending on where a person resides.