Colorado’s Wildfire Crisis Escalates with Thousands Evacuated and Heat Soaring

As nearly 100 wildfires ravage the United States, Colorado firefighters are battling four large blazes that have prompted thousands of evacuations along the Front Range.

Fires on the Front Range

Several wildfires are tearing through the densely populated foothills of the Front Range, a mountain range part of the Southern Rocky Mountains. 

Four Fires

The four fires – Stone Canyon, Alexander Mountain, Lake Shore, and Quarry – have led to the evacuation of thousands of people, and the death of one earlier this week. 

Wind and Heat

Each fire started between Monday and Wednesday and blazed through thousands of acres of land carried by strong winds and extreme heat. Altogether, the four fires have burned 9000 acres across the state.

Range of Impact

The Alexander Mountain Fire, in Larimer County, and the Stone Canyon Fire, in the Eagle Ridge area, make up the vast majority of burned area. The Quarry Fire and Stone Canyon Fire have burned closest to populous areas. 

Stone Canyon Fire

The Stone Canyon Fire burned more than 1,500 acres since it began on Tuesday afternoon, and led to the evacuation of more than 2,000 people in the town of Lyons and surrounding areas.

Quarry Fire

The Quarry Fire has gained traction in the southwest of Denver, forcing hundreds to evacuate their homes in the suburb of Littleton. 

Warnings for Denver Residents

Temperatures in Denver are expected to reach and potentially exceed 98 degrees Fahrenheit in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service, with Jefferson County officials urging Denver residents to be diligent in the coming days. 

“Everybody Should Be Worried”

“Everybody should be worried right now, there’s a huge fire and it’s difficult to fight,” said Mark Techmeyer, the county’s Public Affairs Director during a press conference early Thursday. 

One Found Dead

The one individual confirmed dead so far was found in a home near the Rocky Mountain National Park, north of Boulder, Colorado. Their death was the result of the Stone Canyon Fire. 

Confirmed by the County Sherriff

“We did also today discover human remains in one of the residences,” Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson told Reuters. “So, I can confirm for you that we do have one fatality associated with the fire.”

Battling the Blazes

Firefights across the state have been battling to keep the blazes under control, but steep terrain in the Front Range has made it hard to contain the fires. Some firefighters have had to make dangerous climbs to reach the fires in gulches and ravines.

Five Injured

Techmeyer confirmed that five firefighters were injured on Wednesday alone due to heat exhaustion and seizures. 

Calling on the National Guard

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has also summoned the Colorado National Guard to help contain the fires and help with recovery. 

Small Victories

With the exception of the Alexander Mountain Fire, the fires experienced almost no growth on Wednesday night according to officials. While they are far from fully contained, the lack of growth is a positive sign so far.

Levels of Containment

As of Thursday the Stone Canyon Fire has seen the most progress, according to county officials including the Boulder Office of Disaster Management, with 20% contained. Only 1% of the Alexander Mountain Fire has been contained, and 0% is contained in the remaining two.

100 Wildfires Burning

These blazes are just a fraction of the nearly 100 wildfires currently burning across the western US, the result of excessive summer temperatures and parched, dry conditions, according to public officials. 

An Intense Season

While wildfires are expected in various parts of the country every summer, this year’s wildfire season has been off to an especially intense start. This is particularly true in California, where fire activity is now 2,816% higher than it was at the same time last year, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

California Burning

The largest wildfire in the country currently burning is the California Park Fire, which has burned land equivalent to the seizure of Los Angeles. It is now the fifth-largest fire in California history and could climb even higher in the coming days.

29,000 Working

Now more than 29,000 firefighters and support workers are fighting wildfires across more than 2 million acres of land, as reported by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).

Calling for Backup

The NIFC has already been pushed beyond its limits, requiring extra backup from international departments. Firefighters in Australia and New Zealand have already been employed to help in Oregon and Washington.

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