It has burned approximately 94,093 acres, displacing the High Park Fire for the number three position.
Continue readingSpring Creek Fire becomes third largest in state history
Maps of Spring Creek Fire, July 3, 2018
Above: 3-D map of the Spring Creek Fire looking northwest.
(UPDATED at 12:57 p.m. MDT July 3, 2018)
The area where the Spring Creek Fire is located in south-central Colorado is under a Red Flag Warning today. At around noon a weather station near La Veta was recording temperatures in the mid-eighties, 9 percent relative humidity, and winds out of the west at 15 mph. On Wednesday the conditions should be similar, but with slightly higher humidity.
Tuesday afternoon the Incident Management Team changed their reported size of the fire to 78,941 acres — up from 60,710 earlier today.
(Originally published at 8 a.m. MDT July 3, 2018)
The Spring Creek Fire is burning homes and devastating tens of thousands of acres of private land 17 miles west of Walsenburg, Colorado. San Luis Valley 911 tweeted Monday night that 104 homes have been destroyed in the Forbes Park area.
Total Acres: 60,710
??Containment: 10%Forbes Park area:
?104 houses destroyed
61 houses intact, others are inaccessible at this timeFor the full assessment report visit @SLVEmergency https://t.co/latMQTBC4j pic.twitter.com/UCuhbvrxcC
— San Luis Valley 911 (@slv_911) July 3, 2018
Since it started June 27 it has blackened 60,710 acres, according to the official information from the Incident Management Teams Monday night. Our VERY UNOFFICIAL estimate is that at least 75,000 acres have burned as of early Tuesday morning.
CLICK HERE to see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Spring Creek Fire.
These maps were made with Google Earth using fire perimeter data collected at 12:53 a.m. MDT July 3, 2018 (the red line) by a U.S. Forest Service mapping aircraft. The yellow line was the perimeter about 24 hours before. We hope they will answer a few questions for local residents about which areas are within the burned perimeter. Of course if they are, it does not mean that the structures have been destroyed. Firefighters have no doubt worked hard to save many.
Person arrested for arson in Spring Creek Fire is in the US illegally
According to the Denver Post in a story published today the person who has been arrested for arson related to what is now the 56,820-acre Spring Creek Fire in south-central Colorado is in the United States illegally. Jesper Joergensen, who holds a Denmark passport, had a visa which has now expired.
Costilla County sheriff’s deputies are working on the case with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.
Below is a statement from the Sheriff’s office released on June 30:
The initial cause of the fire was human caused. The investigation was lead by our office with the assistance of CBI, State arson investigators, CSP, and Immigration and Customs agents. Jesper Joergensen, 52, was arrested without incident by Costilla County deputies. Jesper is being held on Arson charges. The investigation is still on going so information on this matter is limited.
The Denver Post article mentions that the arrest warrant said about 25 homes had been destroyed in the fire, but fire officials on Monday are reporting that no structures have burned.
CLICK HERE to see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Spring Creek Fire.
Spring Creek Fire spreads closer to highway 12
(UPDATED at 8 p.m. MDT July 2, 2018)
A brief update on the Spring Creek Fire burning 17 miles west of Walsenburg, Colorado. Monday afternoon at 2:01 a satellite detected active fire on the north side of Mt. Maestas. At that time the fire had not made it down to the flatter terrain on the north side but it may have by sundown. There was also activity on the southeast side during the satellite overflight.
Portions of several highways are closed, including 69, 160, and 12.
(Updated at 12:27 p.m. MDT July 2, 2018)
On Sunday and Sunday night the Spring Creek Fire east of Fort Garland, Colorado spread closer to Highway 12, coming to within two miles in some places.
According to the Incident Management Team the fire has burned 56,820 acres with most of that being on private land. Approximately 2,878 structures are threatened but so far none have been destroyed.
Tuesday morning the management of the fire will be spilt with two Rocky Mountain Type 2 IMTs. The Blue Team will take the portion of the fire north of Highway 160.
CLICK HERE to see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Spring Creek Fire.
The IMT is concerned about outflow winds from passing thunderstorms Monday which could push the fire in any direction. The fire should become active before noon, and could be very active throughout the afternoon.
On the east side of the fire, growth has slowed somewhat as the fire moves into lighter fuels. Indirect contingency lines are being constructed, anchoring to the 421 road and Highway 12, with the goal of keeping the fire west of La Veta.
Below is more information from the IMT:
“On the south side in Division K, the fire has moved south of East Indian Creek and is progressing over the ridges of Raspberry Mountain, continuing downslope through heavy fuels. While this type of “backing” behavior (downhill growth), does not move as quickly as fire running up hill, the fire is expected to continue moving south/southwest toward Cuchara Village. The geography between Raspberry Mountain and the communities of Pinehaven and Cuchara Village is extremely challenging with significant beetle kill fuel, rough terrain and narrow canyons. This is a difficult area to place firefighters, as there are minimal escape routes should fire intensity change. As fire continues to push south, crews are constructing indirect line around the communities of Pinehaven and Cuchara Village and will prepare structures in this area in the event of fire spread. Expect to see large smoke columns in this area today.
“The fire is growing to the south-southwest in Divisions N and Z, pushing toward West Indian Creek. Crews are successfully implementing point protection for houses in the South Forbes community. Firefighters are scouting for opportunities to create indirect line to keep the fire north of West Indian Creek. On the southeast side of the fire, crews are working to construct fireline off Mallott Rd, moving from Division A south and east into Divisions Z and N to keep fire east of Trinchera.
“The west and northwest sides of the fire in Divisions A and D continue to hold. The 5% containment is along the northwest perimeter in Division D. Crews are scouting for options for more indirect line running from the ridges back into Highway 160.
“There is now a portable fire retardant plant east of La Veta. Aircraft will drop retardant on areas where its effects will be successful. Air tankers are in use, and the Spring Fire now has two National Guard Blackhawk helicopters participating in air operations along with currently assigned resources.”
Multiple wildfires burning in Colorado
Above: Colorado Fires. Heat detected at 1:01 p.m. MDT June 30, 2018.
(UPDATED at 6:11 p.m. MDT June 30, 2018)
Colorado has been the location where much of the firefighting action has taken place during the last couple of weeks and that continues as at least five large blazes burn across the state.
The map above shows the locations of the largest and most active fires. The heat data on the map is from 1:01 p.m. MDT June 30.
Here is the list:
- 416 Fire, 9 miles north of Durango. 47,000 acres. It started June 1.
- Spring Creek Fire, between La Veta and Fort Garland along Highway 160. 38,000 acres. CDOT reports that the closure of US 160 between Fort Garland and La Veta and the closure of CO 12 between Cuchara and La Veta, will continue. The fire is now pretty well established on the north sides of Highway 160 and Mt. Maestas. (More information.)
- Chateau Fire, 7 miles northwest of Cripple Creek. Our VERY UNOFFICIAL estimate puts it at 1,300 acres early Saturday afternoon. (More information)
- Weston Pass Fire, 16 miles southeast of Leadville. Our VERY UNOFFICIAL estimate puts it at 3,400 acres early Saturday afternoon. US 285, in Park County, is closed between Fairplay and Antero Junction (mp 188 to mp 163) in both directions. A Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered and will assume command 7/1. This team will manage both the Weston Pass Fire and the High Chateau Fire. (More information)
- Sugarloaf Fire, 13 miles northeast of Silverthorne. The Forest Service estimates it has burned about 1,300 acres. This fire is not being fully suppressed.
Spring Creek Fire spreads closer to La Veta, Colorado
The fire is three miles west of the town
Continue readingSatellite imagery of Colorado fires
These photos show the location of the wildfires in Colorado, via the heat sensors on satellites. The one above was taken at 1:57 p.m. MDT June 29 when the 416 Fire looked quite active. The Spring Creek Fire was mostly obscured by clouds, but the heat sensor was able to get a peek at it when a hole in the clouds passed over. The data in the map below was from 4:36 a.m. MDT June 29.
More information about the 416 and Spring Creek Fires.
Structures lost as Spring Creek Fire in southern Colorado burns 4,000 acres
The Spring Creek Fire in Costilla County, Colorado. Photo courtesy Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Field Manager via San Luis Valley Twitter.
(UPDATED at 8:51 a.m. MDT June 29 2018 by Bill Gabbert)
Updated information provided by the Rocky Mountain Coordination Center reported that the Spring Creek Fire has burned 14,424 acres. However infrared data from a fixed wing aircraft that flew the fire at 9:35 p.m MDT on June 28 showed that the fire was significantly larger. The convection column of smoke made it difficult for the equipment to map accurately as it avoided plumes and bounced around. Other information collected by a satellite at 3:36 a.m. also showed that the fire was very active on the east and southeast sides and that it could be much larger as than the last official estimate by the RMCC.
CLICK HERE to see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Spring Creek Fire.
There are reports that the fire has crossed and required the closure of Highway 160, the main highway between Walsenburg and Alamosa.
The early information was that the name of the fire was “Spring”, but the official name is “Spring Creek”
Shane Greer’s Type 2 Incident Management Team was scheduled to assume command at 6 a.m. on June 29.
The area is under a Red Flag Warning on Friday, bringing a high potential for rapid spread. Thursday the fire was exhibiting extreme fire behavior with running, torching, crowning and spotting a quarter of a mile ahead. Evacuations were in progress and multiple residences are threatened.
#breaking We’ve got our Viaero Wireless Camera trained on the smoke plume from the 14K+ acre #SpringFire w 0% containment & no official # of homes lost. @KRDONC13 pic.twitter.com/q3GPmrPJzm
— Shannon Brinias (@ShannonBrinias) June 29, 2018
(Originally published at 11:01 a.m. MDT June 28, 2018 by Jason Pohl)
A wind-driven wildfire in Red Flag conditions blackened an estimated 4,000 acres by Thursday night in southern Colorado, officials said.
The Spring Creek Fire is burning between Walsenburg and Fort Garland in Costilla County, not far from the New Mexico border. While officials have said structures were damaged and destroyed since the fire started Wednesday, it was not immediately clear how extensive the devastation was.
According to The Denver Post:
“There have been structures lost,” said Linda Smith, spokeswoman for the San Luis Valley Emergency Operations Center. “I do not know whether they were homes. I do know there are a lot of homes in that area.”
Officials declared a disaster for the area Wednesday night.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A Red Flag Warning is in place for Friday as much of the region continues to experience record high temperatures.