Colorado Unit 7 - Rawahs on Fire

[Coveyleader]

A couple things i've noticed in my wanderings.

My experience in WY not far from there is even though it's beetle killed, a burn doesn't really take care of all the logs and such like you'd think. My experience in those areas, it get's even worse as now the trees that were dead and still standing are dead and burnt, and still standing. Also, it just makes more of a mess in the first couple years than one would think. Alot of Colorado needs to burn, but don't expect a burn, to clean those areas up. On the contrary, it get's even uglier.

Alot of antelope are going to die over waterholes this weekend. Rain has been non-exsitent.

 

[LongWayAround]

This afternoon the wind is gonna cause all hell to break loose for this fire.

Hot & dry weather = BAD


View attachment 206597

What is the source for that wind map?

 

[Jaden Bales]

I've backcountry skied in some of that country. I'm sure someone will kill some critters out of that birn in the coming years, but as folks have noted, I'm not too sure it'll be very fun to walk around in unless it's burning super hot.

 

[cnelk]

What is the source for that wind map?

Windfinder

 

[Newtosavage]

Man, I was just there 5 days ago. So much beetle kill. It's a shame we can't manage our forests the way they need to be managed. People don't realize how much of the world burned every year before we came along and stopped it all.

BTW that windfinder is a great tool. I use it all the time - mostly for fishing.

 

[mmac]

I agree with Covey that this will burn some, but leave more weakened snags with lower protection. They will eventually come down. What it will do is open it up to new growth with the cover the elk will love....

Need to log these areas to get the dead trees out and open it faster.... also prevents the fires.

 

[ozyclint]

now multiply that by 100's and you have what Australia had last summer.

 

[Novemberfest]

Thanks for the notification and updates @cnelk
Daily updates on this fire from you guys would be appreciated. I hope some rain comes soon.

 

[cnelk]

A photo from yesterday where it began near Chambers Lake

 

[Novemberfest]

A photo from yesterday where it began near Chambers Lake

Pretty unreal how fast that fire grew on the 1st day. I imagine something like this could burn for weeks if the weather doesn't provide any relief. How they heck do the fire crews stop them or prioritize areas of protection?!

 

[Raptyr]

Updates on fire spread: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6964/
Updates on evacuations: https://nocoalert.org/

 

[LongWayAround]

Not a drop of rain in the 10-day forecast from NoCo to Grand Junction, that I have seen. Just more hot and dry.

They're still calling this one 1500 acres. I'll be interested to see what it is tonight/tomorrow.

 

[backcountrymuzzy]

Inciweb predicts it to be contained by the 21st..I wonder how accurate that will be . I can only imagine firefighter resources are pretty low in the state right now with the 3 major fires

 

[cnelk]

This fire tripled in size overnight. As with any govt entity, info typically lags to the public.

 

[Gunnersdad49]

AirNow Fire and Smoke Map

This map shows fine particle pollution (PM2.5) from wildfires and other sources. It provides a public resource of information to best prepare and manage wildfire season. Developed in a joint partnership between the EPA and USFS.

fire.airnow.gov

Smoke map for the state

 

[cnelk]

Check out this video from yesterday

Dramatic smoke, flames from Cameron Peak Fire in Poudre Canyon

Cameron Peak Fire is burning 500 acres as of an initial report on Aug. 13. Video by Sonya and Ben Miller.

www.coloradoan.com

 

[WoodrowCall]

Curious, do they know how these fires got started? Hikers with campfires, hot vehicle exhaust, or ...? I am guessing it was not a lightening strike with lack of rain...

 

[Raptyr]

Hard to say how it started but I'm guessing it was human caused. Rangers are super strict on the fire ban up there right now but they cant watch the dispersed campers as well as they can at the road side camp sites. This is a very high use area for backpacking and camping.... i hope S&R and LCSO are able to locate all these dispersed campers before they get trapped. The Rawahs are some super rugged country and getting anything in or out of there without a horse team can be a daunting task even for experienced backpackers. Choppers may be the only way to get people found and out of there fast enough...

 

[cnelk]

Based on the location of the start of the fire, it probably was in the Blue Lake area - uphill and west of Chambers Lake. A very popular hiking/backcountry camping trail.

The trailhead was full of vehicles yesterday

 

[cnelk]

This is the fire an hour ago. Pic taken from the North Park/Walden side looking East.