Unprecedented Colorado Wildfires Continue, As Strong Winds and Looting Add to the Problem
- Posted on June 17, 2012 at 7:56pm by
Erica Ritz
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(The Blaze/AP) — Crews in northern Colorado are facing powerful winds as they battle a blaze that has scorched about 86 square miles of mountainous forest land and destroyed at least 181 homes, the most in state history. Meanwhile, local authorities are focusing on another concern – looting.
The destructiveness of the High Park Fire burning 15 miles west of Fort Collins surpassed the Fourmile Canyon wildfire, which destroyed 169 homes west of Boulder in September 2010.
More than 1,630 personnel are working on the Fort Collins-area fire, which was sparked by lightning and is 45 percent contained.
Julie Berney with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said firefighters can expect winds of 30 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph Sunday. Some rain moved through Saturday evening, but it wasn’t enough to quell the fire.
“The problem is that when you have a fire like this, even if it rains it evaporates before it hits the ground,” Berney said.
On Sunday afternoon, high winds prompted fire managers to ground all helicopters working on the blaze and to send 96 notices to residents, ordering the immediate evacuation of the Hewlett Gulch Subdivision in the Poudre Canyon area north of the fire. It was unclear how many homes were affected.
(Photo: AP)
A red flag warning has been issued for the area until 8 p.m. Sunday, and temperatures could reach 90 degrees, the hottest day since the fire was reported June 9.
But incident commander Bill Hahnenberg said he was pleased with the firefighters’ progress, while also acknowledging that high winds could be a test.
“A scenario could be we’ll lose some line, and then we just go after it the next day and the next day,” he said. “We’re going to do everything we can to protect facilities, and we’re prepared to do that.”
As firefighters try to get the upper hand on the blaze, which has burned large swaths of private and U.S. Forest Service land, local authorities have dispatched roving patrols to combat looting.
Officials relate the number of homes destroyed, showing photos of the damage:
Deputies arrested 30-year-old Michael Stillman Maher of Denver on Sunday on charges including theft and impersonating a firefighter. The sheriff’s department said Maher was driving through the fire zone with phony firefighter credentials and a stolen government license plate.
His truck was later seen near a bar in Laporte, and investigators say they found a firearm and stolen property in the vehicle.
“There’s a handful out there that are taking advantage of others,” said Sheriff Justin Smith, adding that “if somebody’s sneaking around back there, we’re going to find them.”
Also Sunday, a fire erupted in the foothills west of Colorado Springs, prompting the evacuation of some cabins and a recreation area near the Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir. U.S. Forest Service spokesman Ralph Bellah told The Gazette ( http://bit.ly/MiQvne ) that the fire was reported at about 12:30 p.m. and quickly grew to up to 100 acres.
(Photo: AP)
Meanwhile, a fire near Pagosa Springs in the southwestern part of the state has grown to 11,617 acres and is 30 percent contained. Hot, dry conditions Sunday are expected to fuel the fire, which was sparked by lightning May 13.
Across the West:
-New Mexico: A wildfire in southern New Mexico has destroyed 242 homes and businesses, and firefighters are working to increase containment and keep an eye out for possible lightning.
The 59-square-mile Little Bear Fire in Ruidoso is 60 percent contained. Dan Bastion, a spokesman for crews fighting the fire, says most of the fire is in the mop-up stage, but crews need to build more containment on the fire’s active west side to deprive it of fuel.
- Arizona: Firefighters are focusing on protecting electrical transmission lines near a 3,100-acre blaze on the Tonto National Forest in northern Arizona. Officials say hot weather and steep slopes remain a concern, and firefighters are on the alert for thunderstorms and possible lightning strikes. The fire is 15 percent contained.
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dmerwin
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:27amThank you well intentioned environmentalists who have NO concept of how nature really works. This is a result of a nationwide trend to put out all fires regardless of cause and regardless of the state of health of the forest. Beetles kill trees which are left standing to dry like kindling creating huge tracts of fuel. It is time to let natural fires do the work which nature has intended. It is also time for humans to wake up and build firebreaks between large tracts of timber and homes. (brush for you folks in So Cal) Prevention and maintenance would go a long way toward mitigating fire danger. Logging would also help.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 1:02pmCal Libs… wreck all the nice cities with their Second Homes!
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 7:56amLooting. How pathetic.
Report Post »macpappy
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:52amIt’s been my experience that the ones you have to worry about looting are first responders, and tactical teams that come in after a disaster. That is exactly what happened in Port Bolivar Tx after hurricane IKE.
Report Post »gingirl67
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:33amhttp://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/Fire_Reported_Near_Lake_George_159358625.html
Report Post »gingirl67
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:30amnot been able to be outside since this fire.. colorado springs has been smelling so smokey and its awful.. it has even gotten some into the house even tho the windows are shut.. and not its gonna be hot and windy..pray for us..
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 12:04amKeep us informed Colorado. Tell the real story here and we’ll know the facts.
Report Post »Not the CNN garbage.
blackyb
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:26pmMichael the looter should have been on the front line trying to help the fire fighers. Instead he is out there looting what these people have left. He should reconsider who and what he has become once he is in jail. This man is a symptom of what is in our Government. These people are opportunists who would take the water from a dying child to promote their agandas.
Report Post »ScottG-CO
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:01pmFEMA is NOT needed here- we take care of our own.
One guy has been caught stealing- and he’s from outta town. We don’t loot our neighbors.
This is the result of the environMENTALists and their twisted policies that would not allow the logging companies to even remove the dead beetle kill. What we see now is a Federally “controlled” fire that is in the process of cleaning up the beetle kill now.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:15pmThey are using every agency headed by their kind to loot and destroy this nation through laws and legislation that is contrary to what the law should be. Get them out of our government and wherever possible into jail.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:28am2nd amendment.
Report Post »nobama2012yeswecan
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 10:59pmObama announces immigration holiday in favor of Colorado and then it starts to burn down and be looted..Anything Obama touches is cursed and soon destroyed..Destruction is all that remains in the path of His entire life and those associated with him..the Rev,Acorn,Planned Parenthood,Nation of Is biggotlam, Israel,Egypt,Africa, look at Afghanistan and Iraq now in shambles,etc..etc..
Report Post »Come on gimme a break..the sky falls around him where ever he goes..
He is not lying to us..He is a politician..that’s different you know??!!I know you are but what am I??The President ate my dog that ate my homework!!
blackyb
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 10:51pmI do not think all these fires are Bush’s fault, nor do I think it the fault of mother nature. There are elements in this country who are trying to bankrupt this nation and bleed her in every way posible. They all have their individual jobs and these things are likely the result of bringing illegals into this country and those who seem legal that are to harm to this nation. These people are literally tryinng to destroy this country through every method they have available. They want this cuntry to look like the dunes. I hope I am wrong on this, but from what is going on, this davastation is not a result of nature.
Report Post »slp
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 10:51pmThe fire is far from “unprecedented:”
http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/the-fort-collins-2012-mega-fire/
Fires have always happened. Tragic, yes; but also quite common. I expect more from The Blaze than that kind of sensationalism.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:11pmThese fires are unprecedented. You people lie through your teeth and when we do catch those responsible for any of this, they will possibly be used to kindle the next fire.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:13pmThe only thing common is your lies.
Report Post »toto
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 10:19pmLooters should be subjected to public humiliation in their own communities as well as where they commit their crimes. Maybe a new tradition of indentured servitude to the wronged party until all debts are paid as part of their parole. Tolerance in the country has gone too far in protecting evil against the good and the vulnerable.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 11:23pmThat is for sure. Many of these fires could have been prevented through allowing the dried and fire prone dead folage to be burned. They are playing games with the American people though laws guised as protection of animals, etc. These are “in your face” things to mock those who have a stake in preserving their lands and homes. These people need to be called out on their stupidity and for allowing those in this country who are here to destroy. Those in the government who are willing to allow the citizens to take the brunt end of the stick on every thing that comes up are those who are wanting to destroy this nation. These people want what we have, but are not willing to work and sacrifice like our parents and forefathers did to establish something to leave for our children. They waste and then want what the other has. We are not here to serve animals and those people who come to this country uninvited and play games with our lives and fortunes to see to it that those who are not willing to produce has their wants satisfied. Get that bunch of destroyers out of our government and all those who support them and fan the flames of destruction of this country.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 11:29amblackyb
Report Post »Good analysis, another example of well intentioned liberal policies gone awry.
AJAYW
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 8:29pmlooters should be shot on the spot,
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 9:20pmI thought most of the modern Coloradoans were California immigrants. Looks like Colorado has imported everything from California: Liberalism and Looters.
Of course, I can’t throw stones…..I live in Washington State, a California Colony since 1970…….
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 9:25pmI think it is a crime to make threats against the president
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 9:45pmAgree .. that would put a stop to most of it … and the same should be done on the U.S. border.
Report Post »scarebear83
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 3:15am@Skrewedretiree- Actually those that I know in Fort Collins/Loveland areas are either natives or are from Texas (that is if you don’t count the college kids attending CSU). There’s a few friends from Cali but I think mostly from Texas.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 8:17pmThe eco-dingbats and eco-extremists must be laughing their heads off now; this is the outcome in part from the constant eco-groups going after any form of thinning of the woodlands to clean out the underbrush and such. The undergrowth has been allowed to grow so much, trees to become so clustered and unhealthy in growth that when the fires come – as first seen in the Yellowstone fires that went firestorm – that the fires wind up going out of control quickly and devastate the region for a century or more to come.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on June 17, 2012 at 8:06pmIt’s really pathetic when a tragedy like this happens that there are always people willing to help themselves to your stuff…… WHEN YOU’VE LOST EVERYTHING!!!! I hope FEMA is sitting on their burned out door steps to help them.
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