Smoke and Haze
The Big Fish fire near Steamboat Springs (approx. 200 mi NNW of Four Mile) blew up yesterday to 3000 acres. Smoke spread eastward over the Front Range near Ft. Collins, Loveland and Denver. Had people from all over calling 911! When the front blew though from the north last night it brought a lot of smoke and haze down to us in four Mile.
So it looks like there is a fire nearby, but it there is no fire near Four Mile. All this junk in the air is from the Big Fish fire near Steamboat.
The fire is officially known as the Lost Green Complex and apparantly includes the Lost Lakes, Green Creek and Big Fish fires. They started (lightening) in early July. The Forest Service has been letting them burn because they have not been threatening structures and were in a wilderness area. Also, due to the precipitation we've had recently, they have not been burning very quickly. Sorta like turning a wildfire into a controlled burn...
Well, the Big Fish ate Trappers Lake Lodge last night! I think the Forest Service might start to get serious about putting this thing out.
Latest news from the community of Four Mile in beautiful Teller County, Colorado.
Saturday, August 17, 2002
Wednesday, July 10, 2002
Modems
Well, one of the side effects of the thrunderstorms last week was that I lost both my modems. So I'm working off the business laptop for the time being.
I found out that there are loads of good modems (I'm talking IBM, Intel, US Robotics) available on ebay for a fraction of what you'd pay at Best Buy. So if your modem goes on the fritz, check it out. Or just buy an extra to use while the first one is being repaired.
Well, one of the side effects of the thrunderstorms last week was that I lost both my modems. So I'm working off the business laptop for the time being.
I found out that there are loads of good modems (I'm talking IBM, Intel, US Robotics) available on ebay for a fraction of what you'd pay at Best Buy. So if your modem goes on the fritz, check it out. Or just buy an extra to use while the first one is being repaired.
Rain
Hurray! We've had rain in Four Mile (and the rest of Teller County)!! Last week saw several days with godd heavy afternoon rains. That should really help with the remaining Hayman smoldering hotspots.
And with keeping the fire danger in the rest of the area down a bit.
And with replenishing our water table.
Hurray! We've had rain in Four Mile (and the rest of Teller County)!! Last week saw several days with godd heavy afternoon rains. That should really help with the remaining Hayman smoldering hotspots.
And with keeping the fire danger in the rest of the area down a bit.
And with replenishing our water table.
Wednesday, July 03, 2002
Hayman Contained
The Forest Service has announced today that the Hayman fire is 100% contained. This does not mean that the fire is out. It simply means that sufficient fire barriers have been constructed around the fire and around areas within the larger fire boundary to prevent the fire from spreading. what remains are hot spots within the boundary that will be handled as time and resources permit. The reources will primarily be local fire departments. If the smoldering areas are on private land, it is up to the local departments to handle those with their existing funding. If the smoldering areas are on publiuc lands (state or federal), then the responsible agency will pay the local departments to either monitor or extinguish those fires.
The forest service has stated that this fire will not be "out" until mother nature puts it out - until the summer rains come or the fall snow flies. Why? Because some of the areas are too remote and dangerous to be attacked by people on the ground and it would be too costly to try more water drops. Those helicopters and planes are needed in other areas where fires are threatening life and property.
So essentially, what "containment" means is that Hayman is no longer an imminent threat to life and property. However, it will be watched and any areas that can be worked will be.
The cleanup is continuing: people resuming their lives and people replanting the burned areas. One lucky break is that the replanting can start before our summer monsoons begin. They should be somewhat established before winter snows come.
The Forest Service has announced today that the Hayman fire is 100% contained. This does not mean that the fire is out. It simply means that sufficient fire barriers have been constructed around the fire and around areas within the larger fire boundary to prevent the fire from spreading. what remains are hot spots within the boundary that will be handled as time and resources permit. The reources will primarily be local fire departments. If the smoldering areas are on private land, it is up to the local departments to handle those with their existing funding. If the smoldering areas are on publiuc lands (state or federal), then the responsible agency will pay the local departments to either monitor or extinguish those fires.
The forest service has stated that this fire will not be "out" until mother nature puts it out - until the summer rains come or the fall snow flies. Why? Because some of the areas are too remote and dangerous to be attacked by people on the ground and it would be too costly to try more water drops. Those helicopters and planes are needed in other areas where fires are threatening life and property.
So essentially, what "containment" means is that Hayman is no longer an imminent threat to life and property. However, it will be watched and any areas that can be worked will be.
The cleanup is continuing: people resuming their lives and people replanting the burned areas. One lucky break is that the replanting can start before our summer monsoons begin. They should be somewhat established before winter snows come.
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Yahoo! News - Contract Firefighter Charged in Arizona Fire
What is with this?? We've got firefighters setting these things all over the place, it seems! Enough already! This makes me nervous as all get out to think about the folks that are supposed to be putting these things out lighting them!!
What is with this?? We've got firefighters setting these things all over the place, it seems! Enough already! This makes me nervous as all get out to think about the folks that are supposed to be putting these things out lighting them!!
Smoke
It is quite smoky today in Four Mile!
Though the Hayman fire is 90% contained, it is still burning slowly along the western edge in the Lost Creek Wilderness.
There are five fires burning in Colorado northwest of us:
and there are four fires burning to the southwest:
so I guess I'm not too surprised that it is smokey!!!
In addition there were three new fires reported in Colorado on Saturday:
Hopefully these new ones will be controlled shortly.
The only fire near Four Mile is Hayman. The active area is in the Lost Creek Wilderness, so Hayman is not threatening homes any longer.
It is quite smoky today in Four Mile!
Though the Hayman fire is 90% contained, it is still burning slowly along the western edge in the Lost Creek Wilderness.
There are five fires burning in Colorado northwest of us:
- Hayman (NW of Lake George)
- Coal Seam (near Glenwood Springs)
- Spring Creek (near Silt)
- Pinyon Ridge (near Meeker)
- Bear (near Dinosaur Nat'l Mon)
and there are four fires burning to the southwest:
- Million (near South Fork)
- Missionary Ridge & Valley (near Durango)
- West Beaver (S. of Norwood, CO, in the Uncompahgre Forest)
- Rodeo-Chediski (near Show Low, AZ)
so I guess I'm not too surprised that it is smokey!!!
In addition there were three new fires reported in Colorado on Saturday:
- Fountain Gulch - 1 mile NE of Idaho Springs, ~60 acres
- Fish Creek - wilderness area in Larimer County, 25 acres
- Soap Creek - west of Gunnison, northwest of Blue Mesa, 25-30 acres
Hopefully these new ones will be controlled shortly.
The only fire near Four Mile is Hayman. The active area is in the Lost Creek Wilderness, so Hayman is not threatening homes any longer.
Wednesday, June 12, 2002
Monday, June 10, 2002
Hayman Fire - Air Tankers Standing By
Four air tankers and a lead plane (used to guide the tankers in over a fire) have been committed to the Hayman Fire. They are standing by in Durango and Pueblo. Additional tankers and helicopters from Jeffco or Ft. Collins may also be committed, but I haven't picked that up yet on the scanner frequencies I monitor.
Four air tankers and a lead plane (used to guide the tankers in over a fire) have been committed to the Hayman Fire. They are standing by in Durango and Pueblo. Additional tankers and helicopters from Jeffco or Ft. Collins may also be committed, but I haven't picked that up yet on the scanner frequencies I monitor.
Closed!
The Pike National Forest and all BLM lands in Teller, Park, Jefferson, Douglas and El Paso counties are CLOSED to all uses and accesses starting Monday, 10 June 2002!! This is being done to protect lands and residents from the extreme fire danger in these areas.
This country is tinder dry, folks! Please, please please be careful as you drive through on the roads that are open.
More info at my Hayman Fire page
The folks at the Forest Service have a new map, accurate as of 9pm last night.
The Pike National Forest and all BLM lands in Teller, Park, Jefferson, Douglas and El Paso counties are CLOSED to all uses and accesses starting Monday, 10 June 2002!! This is being done to protect lands and residents from the extreme fire danger in these areas.
This country is tinder dry, folks! Please, please please be careful as you drive through on the roads that are open.
More info at my Hayman Fire page
The folks at the Forest Service have a new map, accurate as of 9pm last night.
Sunday, June 09, 2002
Pictures
Rick Grenfell was kind enough to share his pictures from the Four Mile Area (approx. 10 miles SE of the fire). These pictures were taken around noon today.
http://home.att.net/~liverman/4mile/hayman_pix.htm
Rick Grenfell was kind enough to share his pictures from the Four Mile Area (approx. 10 miles SE of the fire). These pictures were taken around noon today.
http://home.att.net/~liverman/4mile/hayman_pix.htm
Westcreek Evacuation
The sheriff's office just announced the evacuation of Westcreek and everything south to the Painted Rocks Road (CR 78) and US Hwy 67. Evacuees are being told to head south - to Woodland Park High School on Rampart Range Road.
Other evacuations:
The sheriff's office just announced the evacuation of Westcreek and everything south to the Painted Rocks Road (CR 78) and US Hwy 67. Evacuees are being told to head south - to Woodland Park High School on Rampart Range Road.
Other evacuations:
- The Malta/Waterton Powerline was shut down last night at midnight. The Divide powerline will shut down soon.
- All points west of Highway 67 to the Jefferson and Douglas County line.
- In addition, Highway 67 is closed from West Creek to Sugar Creek and from Trumbull to Sugar Creek and east to the Rampart Range Road, including the Rampart Range Road.
- Molly Gulch Campground
- Goose Creek Campground
- Flying G Girl Scout Ranch
- Lost Valley Ranch
- Lutheran Valley
- Wild Horn
- PCR 77, mile marker 35-39
- Forest Service Road 211, PCR 77 to Cheesman
- Y Camp Road
- South Platte River, from the Douglas County side is closed to recreation of any sort.
- Evacuations are in effect for all private land and recreation areas between Matukat Road and Cedar Mountain Road up to Highway 67.
- Wigwam
- Deckers
- Trumbull
Shelters are open at:
- Woodland Park High School, Woodland Park (for Park & Teller County residents)
- Lake George Elementary, (for Park County residents)
- Elk Creek High School (for Jefferson Co residents)
- Sedalia Middle School, Sedalia (for Douglas County residents)
Hayman Fire Update
Fire has grown to 19,000+ acres. Growing at 500 ac per hour. Moving to the northeast generally along the Platte River from Lake George towards Deckers. This fire is not under control.
Latest update from the forest service is chilling. Evacuations are underway or will be underway shortly for Deckers, Trumbull, Wigwam, and all points west of Highway 67 to the Jefferson and Douglas County line. Hwy 67 is closed between Painted Rocks campground on the south and West Creek on the north. Interests between Hwy 67 and Rampart Range Road are being alerted.
This is a very fast moving fire.
Hayman Fire
The Hayman Fire started six miles NW of Lake George, CO, near the Round Mountain campground at about 5pm on Saturday, 8 June 2002. Purported cause is a campfire. As of this morning it is over 400 ac and moving to the northeast, generally along the Platte River valley towards Cheesman Resevoir. Twenty residences, twenty outbuildings and four commercial structures destroyed so far. Authorities are evacuating homes and campers in the path of the fire in Park, Jefferson, and Douglas Counties.
Good info can be obtained from the Nat'l. Forest Service dispatch center in Pueblo, CO: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/fire/hayman/
I've also started a page at http://home.att.net/~liverman/4mile/hayman_fire_news.htm that I will be adding to as I get more info.