(Cameron Peak Fire)
By Nia Bender
COLORADO – The high temperatures over the long Labor and our oncoming cold front created a monster with The Cameron Peak Fire in the last couple of days. On Sunday morning’s update, fire officials showed the fire at 34, 289 acres with 5% containment. By Monday night, the fire had grown to over 96,400 acres with 4% containment. The fire basically ran through roughly 10-miles in just three days. The Cameron Peak Fire is now the 4th largest wildfire in Colorado’s history.
More mandatory and voluntary evacuation notices were issued Monday, as the fire raced through more areas. It crossed Pingree Park Road again and was burning in the Highway 14 corridor up the road toward Buckhorn. Fire managers requested more help and requested 50-engines from across Colorado to respond for defensive structure protection. Fire managers are hoping the winter storm that’s moved into the state will at least keep the fire from making any more big runs for a couple of days.
There’s some good news in the state’s largest wildfire outside of Grand Junction. The Pine Gulch Fire hasn’t really grown at all in the past few days. Well over 139,000 acres have burned and it’s 87% contained as of Monday.
(The Pine Gulch Fire)
(Grizzly Creek Fire)
Even more great news on The Grizzly Creek Fire near Glenwood Springs. The fire hasn’t grown in eight days and as of Tuesday morning, it’s at 91% containment with over 32,000 acres burned. Due to the fire damage in the Glenwood Canyon, I-70 can be closed at a moment’s notice if weather conditions warrant it.
