An Overview of the Colorado Wildfires
In the last several weeks, billowing plumes of smoke rolling in from Colorado’s wildfires have been impossible to miss. On better days, one could almost forget that the infernos exist, save for the smell of smoke in the air and the abnormally opaque clouds. As this fire season has progressed, the grim reality that many families and town are being devastated by natural disaster has begun to sink in. It is frightening and it is saddening. Thankfully, communities have a miraculous gift of enduring hardships and rebuilding; Colorado is no exception. There is no doubt that recovery is on the horizon, and it can be hastened if we work together and stay updated on the fires at large.
Major Fire Updates
The Cameron Peak fire–now the largest wildfire in Colorado history–started about 50 miles west of Fort Collins, between Cameron Peak and Chambers Lake. It has already broken the fire lines of Red Feather Lakes, Crystal Lakes, Estes Park, Glen Haven, Cameron Pass, Stove Prairie Landing, and other proximities. Both Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest are in the fire zones, although authorities are doing their best to preserve as much of these lands as possible. Unfortunately, strong winds have pushed the fire across the Continental Divide and towards adjacent cities like Loveland and Fort Collins. So far, the Cameron Peak fire has burned approximately 207,000 acres and is 60% contained. It is expected to be 100% contained by November 8, 2020.
The East Troublesome fire is the second largest in Colorado history and also continues to grow. Its origin has been pinpointed to just north of Hot Sulphur Springs and is believed to have been human-caused. The fire has already reached Grand Lake and rests at the perimeter of Granby. It has also enveloped various peaks (Elk Mountain, Corral Peak, Searight Mountain, etc.) and a small part of Rocky Mountain National Park. To authorities’ chagrin, the East Troublesome fire could possibly merge with the Cameron Peak fire, as the two are only separated by ten miles of land. Right now, the East Troublesome fire has burned 189,000 acres and is only 4% contained. Moderate to large growth is expected and there is, currently, no projected date for 100% containment.
Aside from the above fires, there are several others raging in Colorado: the Calwood fire, Williams Fork fire, Lefthand Canyon fire, Middle Fork fire, Mullen fire, and Grizzly Creek fire. None of these are as large as the Cameron Peak or East Troublesome fires, and most of them are already over 50% contained. Also, a cold front is expected to hit the Western Slope in the next couple of days and bring some much-needed moisture, which could help contain any rogue flames. For more information on all of our state’s fires, please visit the Incident Information System. To all Colorado residents, please stay up-to-date on the fires near you. Nothing is more important than your safety!
Evacuation Info
If you are in an area that will be potentially impacted by the fires, it is important to stay up-to-date with information provided by authorities to determine whether or not it’s necessary for you to evacuate. Staying tuned via television, radio, and the internet are all good ways to keep yourself informed and ready for potential emergencies. While smaller communities may have authorities go door-to-door in order to notify residents of evacuation orders, authorities covering larger or distressed areas may be unable to contact residents individually. Therefore, always stay informed and take initiative for your own safety.
There are two main reasons why you may be asked to to evacuate your home. The first is that your house may be in immediate danger, and authorities will order you to leave in order to protect your well-being. The other reason why you may be asked to evacuate is if you live in an area that an important road passes through. Evacuating in these situations allows first-responder and firefighting vehicles to rush back and forth unimpeded.
Regardless of why you are asked to evacuate, it’s imperative that you obey authorities. Failing to evacuate not only puts you at risk, but it also puts first-responders at risk if they need to rescue you in an escalated situation. The best way to keep you and your loved ones safe is to be proactive with your evacuation. If fire and law enforcement personnel believe that you should evacuate (even though you may not be in immediate danger), they will issue a “voluntary” evacuation notice. If the situation is imminently threatening, on the other hand, they will issue a “mandatory” evacuation notice. It is advised that you leave as soon as you get any sort of evacuation notice, regardless of whether or not it is considered compulsory at the time of reception. This keeps roadways from becoming ridden with traffic and ensures that you have enough buffer time to account for any unforeseen issues. For more information on evacuation steps, click here.
Also, in case you are ever asked to leave your home, it is important to plan ahead. You should have a go-bag on standby with all the things you need in order to spend at least a few days away from home. You should also prepare an evacuation checklist in order to make sure you do not forget anything on your way out the door.
For information regarding evacuation and pre-evacuation areas, closed roads, and available shelters, click here.
Air Quality
Even if you have not been–and will not be–immediately impacted by the fires, be aware of the smoke pollution in your area. It may smell like a pleasant campfire, but anything above 60 can be detrimental to one’s health. For reference, Boulder’s air quality normally rests at or below 60, however, the fire smoke has caused it to fluctuate from 75 to 200. Prolonged inhalation of smoky air can lead to dizziness, fatigue, and respiratory infections, among other things. Therefore, on days of bad air quality, it is advised that you limit your outdoor activity and exposure, especially if you have pre-existing respiratory complications. Disclaimer: face masks (like those used to prevent the transmission of COVID-19) do NOT filter out air pollutants like smoke. I find it useful to check the air quality periodically throughout the day and orient my plans around that. Normally, you can check the air quality through your mobile device’s weather app. If not, feel free to visit the AirNow website, here. Again, your health is of utmost importance, so be careful!