Colorado wildfire updates for Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024
Fire crews across the state Wednesday continued to gain or hold containment lines on the three remaining active wildfires.
Since July 29, wildfires in Larimer, Boulder, Montrose and Jefferson counties have killed one person, damaged or destroyed more than 50 buildings, evacuated thousands of people and charred approximately 15,000 acres.
RELATED: How to prepare for a wildfire evacuation in Colorado
Fire crews reached 100% containment of the Quarry fire on Wednesday afternoon, a swift jump from the 45% containment that had been achieved as of Tuesday morning. The remaining wildfire — the Bucktail fire in Montrose County — continues to grow on national forest land as fire crews fight to secure fire lines around it.
The Lake Shore fire in Boulder County was completely extinguished last week, and Boulder County officials announced Sunday that fire crews hadfully contained the Stone Canyon fire. Flames couldcontinue to burn in the contained areafor days or weeks.
Click here to skip to a specific fire: Quarry fire |Alexander Mountain fire |Bucktail fire | Wildfire map
Quarry fire near Deer Creek Canyon
Access the latest evacuation map here
Last updated at 2:50 p.m.
The Quarry fire burning on more than 500 acres in Jefferson County was 100% contained Wednesday.
The 580-acre fire, which forced nearly 600 homes to evacuate after it started burning late July 30, did not destroy any structures, fire officials said. .
Although the fire is fully contained, flames could continue to burn for days or weeks within the fire lines as crews work to mop up the area and stamp out hotspots.
All mandatory evacuations for the Quarry fire burning in Jefferson County were lifted at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, sheriff’s officials said.
Residents can go home but must pick up their access credentials at the Dakota Ridge High School evacuation center before they’ll be able to enter their neighborhoods, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
“Current mandatory evacuation neighborhoods will be moved to pre-evacuation status,” sheriff’s officials said in the Tuesday morning update. “Current pre-evacuation neighborhoods will be moved to non-status.”
Only residents with access cards will be allowed into the previously evacuated area for the next until Thursday, sheriff’s officials said. Deer Creek Canyon Road will remain closed between Grizzly Drive and Phillipsburg as fire crews clean up.
The evacuation center permanently closed at 6 p.m. Tuesday, sheriff’s officials said.
“The large animal evacuation site at Jeffco Fairgrounds asks that those no longer in pre-evacuation status make arrangements to pick up their animals,” sheriff’s officials stated Tuesday. “If you are now in pre-evacuation you may keep your animals at the fairgrounds until your status has changed.”
No details about the ongoing arson investigation were available Wednesday morning. Anyone with information about how the fire started can call the Quarry fire Tip Line at 303-271-5612.
Alexander Mountain fire near Loveland
Access the latest evacuation map here
Last updated at 2:20 p.m.
Alexander Mountain fire officials lifted all mandatory evacuation orders and reopened U.S. 34 on Wednesday, more than a week after the wildfire closed the highway connecting Loveland and Estes Park.
Voluntary evacuation alerts are still in effect for areas north and east of the fire, including Storm Mountain and neighborhoods north of Drake.
Fire crews gained 83% containment on the 9,668-ace Alexander Mountain fire Monday, and the lines continued to hold Wednesday.
The fire, which sparked on July 29, is burning in the Roosevelt National Forest and on private land 10 miles west of Loveland.
Afternoon storms over the fire area Wednesday could cause flash flooding, according to the National Weather Service.
NWS forecasters issued a flash flood warning for Larimer County around 2 p.m. Wednesday, which will remain active until at least 5 p.m. Within the county, the Alexander Mountain fire burn scar, U.S. 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon and Drake are most at risk of flash floods.
In areas where fire burns hot or long enough, the soil develops a water-repellant layer that reacts like rain on pavement, weather officials said. Rainfall that would normally be absorbed by the forest canopy and loose tree litter on the ground instead runs off, starting flash floods during periods of heavy rain.
“If you can look uphill from where you are and see a burnt-out area, you are at risk,”NWS meteorologists said.
As of Wednesday, 26 homes and 21 outbuildings had been destroyed in the Storm Mountain and Cedar Park areas, and four more homes were damaged.
Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen said it’s possible that more damaged or destroyed structures will be found, and the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management has contacted people with known damage to structures to provide resources and next steps.
The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation Wednesday. Feyen said Monday that investigators found signs of human activity and multiple lightning strikes near where the fire started.
Command of the fire will transition from the Southwest Incident Management Team back to the US Forest Service and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office on Friday at 6 a.m., fire officials said in a Tuesday night update.
“Community members may see smoke and smoldering fire activity in the burn area, but the perimeter is not expected to expand,” officials said in the update.
Anyone with information can call the Forest Service Law Enforcement Tip Line at 303-275-5266.
Bucktail fire near Nucla
Last updated at 6:35 a.m.
The Bucktail fire burning on more than 3,700 acres of land near Nucla in Montrose County was 10% contained Tuesday night.
The fire was first reported on private land on Aug. 1 and quickly grew to nearly 2,000 acres. By Tuesday, the fire had charred 3,788 acres, fire officials said.
The fire is burning in pinyon pine, juniper and brush oak and has spread to U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands in Uncompahgre National Forest, according to a map from fire officials.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Originally Published: August 7, 2024 at 7:09 a.m.
