Colorado Front Range Wildfires Situation Report #7 Monday, July 02, :15 AM (MDT)

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1 Colorado Front Range Wildfires Situation Report #7 Monday, July 02, :15 AM (MDT) Mandatory evacuations for the Waldo Canyon fire have been reduced from 35,000 to 3,000. Remaining evacuations are in the areas burned last Tuesday Waldo Canyon now 55% contained High Park Fire now 100% contained. All evacuations lifted Flagstaff Fire now 90% contained. All evacuations lifted Waldo Canyon Fire West of Colorado Springs, El Paso County General Overview: Two deaths have now been attributed to the fire as search and rescue crews searched the burned homes over the weekend Favorable weather over the weekend allowed crews to continue to build and strengthen fire lines increasing containment percentage Started June 23 rd 3 miles west of Colorado Springs in the Pike and San Isabel National Forests and spread into the western edge of Colorado Springs on Tuesday June 26 th. Fire Statistics: Events 17,827 (Increase from 16,750 due to the controlled burning of unburned fuel islands within the perimeter) 55% contained Zero growth along the perimeter for the past 4 days. Estimated containment date: Monday July 16 th, Cost $5.2 million to date. The islands of unburned fuels west of the U.S. Air Force Academy continue to burn out and produce intermittent smoke columns. Thunderstorms and weather fronts around the fire area continue to challenge suppression efforts. Line construction and burnout is complete along the western flank of Divisions C and D along the Highway 24 corridor to Rampart Reservoir. Mop-up is in progress. The spots north of Rampart Reservoir are proceeding toward 100 percent mop-up. Hotshot crews and Type 1 Initial Attack crews are holding the north flank of the fire south of Monument Canyon and are supported by aircraft and retardant. EA Sit-Rep Page 1 of 8

2 Evacuations: o The majority of the mandatory evacuation area that was not burned last Tuesday has had mandatory evacuations lifted although this area remains under preevacuation notice. Oak Valley Ranch Pinon Valley Peregrine Grand Centennial Apartments All businesses along Centennial and 30th Centennial Boulevard will also re-open at 8 p.m. o Evacuations of the Peregrine and Woodman Valley neighborhoods will be lifted at 2000 today. o Evacuations remain in effect for the Mountain Shadows area, south of Wolf Ranch, west of Flying W and north of 30th St. Impacts roughly 3,000 residences o On Sunday residents were escorted into the heavily damaged Mountain Shadows and Flying W neighborhoods from 1000 to 1600 to check their residences for damage. They will not be allowed to fully return for four to six weeks because of utility and infrastructure damage. Road Closures: o Highway 24 was reopened to all traffic, effective at Structure Loss: The official preliminary number of homes lost is 346 over 35 streets in the Mountain Shadows & Flying W Subdivision. Red Cross Shelters: Cheyenne Canyon High School (1200 Cresta Road, Colorado Springs, CO) Southeast YMCA (2190 Jet Wing Drive, Colorado Springs, CO) Lewis Palmer High School (1300 Higby, Monument, CO 80132) (Closing today 7/2) Summit Elementary School, (Divide, CO) (Closing today 7/2) Weather (Mon-Wed) & Smoke Transport: The threat of thunderstorms remains Today through the week, a 20-30% of showers and thunderstorms could bring some rainfall to the fire area yet will also generate erratic wind conditions with gusts to 40mph hampering containment efforts. These wind shifts can shift smoke into the city temporarily. Today, north winds 5-10 mph becoming southeast should keep much of the smoke out of the city. Tonight, north-northwest at 5-10 mph can allow the smoke to blow into the city. On Tuesday, north-northwest at 5-10 mph can allow the smoke to blow into the city. Tuesday night, east wind around 5 mph should blow any smoke away from the city. Wednesday, calm winds can allow smoke to settle into the city before shifting out of the south and should blow the smoke away from the city. EA Sit-Rep Page 2 of 8

3 When winds are out of the northwest, west, and southwest the greatest impacts from smoke can be experienced. Nighttime temperature inversions tend to trap smoke at the surface which dissipates with day time heating as the airmass begins to mix out. Visual Summary Map New Evacuation Map as of Sunday Evening EA Sit-Rep Page 3 of 8

4 In the above graphic the dates represent the fire perimeter as of 12:30pm on that date not the growth that occurred on that date. EA Sit-Rep Page 4 of 8

5 Flagstaff Fire Final Report No significant growth of the fire and additional significant growth is not expected Back-burns over the weekend increased containment of the fire. Crews using aerial resources to build in the final 10% containment over the next few days and to follow up with hand crews. Located in the Flatiron mountains located along the southwest periphery of Boulder, CO City of Boulder is not threatened by the fire Residents within local communities should expect to continue to see occasional flare-ups during the night, as well as lingering smoke from within the fire area. These flare-ups are a result of small, unburned islands of fuel, including single trees, well within the fire s interior. They do not pose a threat to the fire s perimeter EA Sit-Rep Page 5 of 8

6 Fire statistics: 300 acres in size 90% containment, final 10% to occur over the next few days due to steep terrain No structures damaged/destroyed Evacuations: All evacuation and pre-evacuation orders have now been lifted High Park Wildfire Final Report Remained 8-10 miles west of Fort Collins in the elevated hills and mountains No threat to Fort Collins Fire Statistics: 87,284 acres in size (no change in size) 100% contained Evacuations: All evacuations lifted as of homes lost with assessments of the burned area continuing Only a few scattered road closures continue within the fire perimeter. EA Sit-Rep Page 6 of 8

7 Final Perimeter Map 100% Containment EA Sit-Rep Page 7 of 8

8 Smoke Concerns and Forecast: Wildfire Smoke Health Advisories are in effect for the Waldo Canyon fires. Due to changing conditions, the amount of smoke affecting specific areas is variable. For anywhere in Colorado: IF VISIBILITY IS LESS THAN 5 MILES IN SMOKE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SMOKE HAS REACHED LEVELS THAT ARE UNHEALTHY. If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. A Wildfire Smoke Health Advisory continues in effect for portions of El Paso County due to the Waldo Canyon Fire. Fine Particulate concentrations are expected to be variable from Good to Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups downwind of the Waldo Canyon Fire. Smoke will move downslope/downvalley at night and during the morning and could pool in low areas and along Fountain Creek as far south as Fountain. Fine Particulate concentrations could reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range in areas where the smoke pools. Light to Moderate smoke is possible near the Waldo Canyon Fire. During the day on Monday, smoke will move from the fire to the north and northeast. Smoke will move downslope/downvalley at night and in the morning and could pool in low areas, including areas along Fountain Creek as far south as Fountain. Light smoke is possible in the vicinity of the Flagstaff Fire west of Boulder. Light smoke is possible in Larimer County at times near the High Park Fire. Updates: To be issued as significant additional information warrants a release. This will be the final reports for the High Park and Flagstaff Fires as there is no threat to the cities due to containment of the fire. End of Report A service of: Early Alert, Inc Real Time Emergency Management 877-WE ALERT ( ) EA Sit-Rep Page 8 of 8