As I am writing this, Teller County Fire Departments are responding as the Teller County Wildland Fire Task Force to the vicinty of Aspen Village Drive north of Divide, CO (15 mi east of the Springer fire in Teller County). The initial responders are reporting a large column of dense smoke.
USFS crews from the Springer Fire are also responding.
This is a residential area and there are three structures that are threatened.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Springer Fire Update - 970 acres, No Containment
The size of the Springer Fire was revised a few hours ago after an aerial GPS survey was completed this morning.
Size is now 970 acres. Last night, based on preliminary ground surveys, they had it pegged at between 400-500 acres. I don't know if the fire really grew or if this is the result of better measurements. Probably some of each.
As of the 4:00pm USFS briefing, there is no containment.
A couple of hours ago, the spotter plane providing control services for the air attack above the Springer Fire, detected a new fire, about 5 miles away from the Springer Fire. It is located just east of the Eleven Mile Reservoir Dam. Of course, both helitack and ground crews were immediately dispatched to deal with this one. Only a tenth of an acre in size, the crews made short work of this one.
So my spotters and I climbed the hill behind the house:
And we saw:
The fire is about 10 miles from this vantage point.
Size is now 970 acres. Last night, based on preliminary ground surveys, they had it pegged at between 400-500 acres. I don't know if the fire really grew or if this is the result of better measurements. Probably some of each.
As of the 4:00pm USFS briefing, there is no containment.
A couple of hours ago, the spotter plane providing control services for the air attack above the Springer Fire, detected a new fire, about 5 miles away from the Springer Fire. It is located just east of the Eleven Mile Reservoir Dam. Of course, both helitack and ground crews were immediately dispatched to deal with this one. Only a tenth of an acre in size, the crews made short work of this one.
What it looks like from the Four Mile area in western Teller County
The plume today was not as dense as yesterday, but seen from the road in front of our ranch, this looks ominous: |
| Teller CR 1 between MM 9 and MM 10 looking northwest |
So my spotters and I climbed the hill behind the house:
And we saw:
The fire is about 10 miles from this vantage point.
Springer Fire Update - 18 June 2012
The wind is out of the southwest this morning, so the Four Mile area is not in the direct path this morning.
Teller County has a new advisory out:
Teller County has a new advisory out:
- Standby evacuations still in effect for
- Sanborn Ranch
- Wilson Lakes Estates
- Forest Glenn Sports Association
- Blue Mountain Estates.
- Prepare for Possible Pre-Evacuation Notice:
- West Florissant Heights
- Indian Creek
- Valley High Subdivisions
- areas west of Wildhorn Rd and CR 31
- Primary evacuation shelter is Summit Elementary in Divide, CO
- Secondary evacuation shelter is at the Woodland Park High School, Woodland Park, CO
Springer Fire Threatens Four Mile
Oh no, not again...
It has been over ten years since the Hayman Fire and in that time we have not had a fire that seriously threatened the Four Mile community.Until yesterday.
Springer Fire details
Yesterday the Springer Fire erupted in the area east of Eleven Mile Reservoir. The exact location is 38.945 latitude, -105.436 longitude. The fire grew yesterday to 450 acres and the south/east edge is at the South Platte River. The fire crossed the river yesterday, but was beaten back. The FS is reporting zero containment. The official USFS incident status page is here.I was enroute to Denver yesterday to get to the Greek Festival and could see the growing smoke from Colorado Springs, Monument and Castle Rock! Based on the info sent to me by Teller County on my cell phone via Nixle, I turned around at Castle Rock (darn! No baklava!!) and headed home.
This is what the fire looked like yesterday:
 |
| Spinger Fire seen from US 24 between Divide & Florissant, CO, 4:54pm, 6/17/2012 |
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| Springer Fire seen from Florissant, Colorado, "city limits". 4:58pm, 6/17/2012 |
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Springer Fire from Lake George, CO. Post office parking lot. 5:10pm, 6/17/2012 |
When the fire crossed the Platte River yesterday, that triggered the evacuations of several subdivisions and homes in the area of Wilson Lakes Estates, Forest Glenn Sports Association, and Blue Mountain Estates. The Sanborn Ranch residents and camp guests evacuated voluntarily.
As the fires south of the Platte were quickly extinguished, Teller County changed the orders to "Standby" for those areas and allowed residents to return to their homes.
Evacuation Shelter for people: Woodland Park High School, Woodland Park, CO
Evacuation Shelter for animals: Teller County Fairgrounds, Cripple Creek, CO
(see the map at the bottom of this page)
Saturday, August 17, 2002
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 06, 2001
Election Day
Nothing too important in our part of the county:
The state wants to take $50M from the excess taxes that were collected and fund the design of a rail system from Denver to Vail.
We'll see what the vote count tells us...
Nothing too important in our part of the county:
- Re-1 Board members
- De-Brucing the library district
- Increased taxesto pay for books 'n' buses for RE-1
The state wants to take $50M from the excess taxes that were collected and fund the design of a rail system from Denver to Vail.
We'll see what the vote count tells us...
Sunday, September 30, 2001
Fall in Four Mile
The leaves are changing. This is really the last good weekend for aspen viewing. We had a cold front through here yesterday and a lot of leaves are on the ground this morning.
Nights are cooler. Almost ready to fire up the stove. It won't be long.
However...the days are still warm! yeah! I love it! Sunny with temps in the 70's and even knockin' on the 80's!
We did have our first real snow a couple of weeks ago, so we've gotten that out of the way - about three good inches here at the Diamond J.
A lot of flags on display around the area as folks show their support for our country in the wake of the horrific events on 11 September.
The leaves are changing. This is really the last good weekend for aspen viewing. We had a cold front through here yesterday and a lot of leaves are on the ground this morning.
Nights are cooler. Almost ready to fire up the stove. It won't be long.
However...the days are still warm! yeah! I love it! Sunny with temps in the 70's and even knockin' on the 80's!
We did have our first real snow a couple of weeks ago, so we've gotten that out of the way - about three good inches here at the Diamond J.
A lot of flags on display around the area as folks show their support for our country in the wake of the horrific events on 11 September.