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High Park Fire: 83,205 Acres And 45% Contained

The High Park Fire stands at 83,205 acres, and remains 45% contained. 2,037 personnel are now battling the blaze.

 

Editor's Note: The High Park Fire started on Saturday, June 9th. Winds and high temperatures helped the fire rapidly spread. There have been many developments with what has become one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history. You can review our timeline of the fire in the High Park Fire archive. This post archives all of the updates for day 16 of the fire, Monday's update on the fire is here.

Update 9:20pm

Officials are reporting that the size of the High Park Fire is now 83,205 acres. At the evening briefing Sunday, the Larimer Sheriff confirmed that 57 homes were burned in Glacier View last Friday & Saturday. The total of confirmed losses now stands at 248.

On Monday officials will look to strengthen the fire line on the north. Areas with structures will continue to be under assessment. The intention is to hold on to the containment that they have on the fire and monitor what areas need additional suppression support.

This effort will be aided by the arrival on Saturday of a RAMS (Radiometric Airborne Mapping System) unit. The RAMS aircraft will allow officials to gain data normally taken at night with an IR flyover during the daytime. It will be used to identify areas of heat and type of heat. That data will allow managers to focus efforts.

Update 1:15pm

The U.S. Forest Service has released another public information map of the High Park Fire. We have updated the post's lead image with the map. Click on the picture to enlarge. Additionally, you can download a very large map (2475x1913) here.

Earlier this afternoon, in response to the growing number of fires and the strain that represents to the air tanker fleet, the U.S. Forest service has requested that two MAFFS C-130's be activated to assist in wildfire operations.

Update 11:32am

The evacuation order for residents on Kings Canyon Rd has been lifted with an all-clear. This includes Kings Canyon Rd, Unger Mountain Rd, Smith Bridge Rd, and Manners Ln. It also includes residents on Highway 14 from Kings Canyohn Rd west to Grey Rock Trail Head.

Identification will be required to obtain a pass to enter the area. Passes will be issued starting at Noon at the Highway 14/CR 29C roadblock.

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Incident Commander Bill Hahnenberg says firefighters will focus their efforts today on fortifying containment lines near Pingree Park road and along the southwest corner of the blaze.

Larimer County Sheriff official Nick Christensen says some lower Poudre Canyon residents may be allowed to return home Sunday afternoon, however no other evacuation updates were issued.

“We know it's difficult for residents to be displaced and want to assure those folks that we are looking at the situation on a daily basis, and we're working with the team here to do everything we can do to safely get them back in as soon as possible.”

While firefighters held their ground Saturday according to Hahnenberg, Friday night was tough. Firefighters battled to protect homes in the Glacier View area. However, a significant number of homes were damaged as the fire became too intense and firefighters had to retreat.

Christensen says there will be a 5pm evacuee meeting at The Ranch in Loveland which will focus on discussion of preliminary damage assessments in the Glacier View subdivision.

There were no additional structures lost Saturday, however there are still reports coming in on Friday’s damage.

Christensen also gave an update on the Woodland Heights Fire which continues to burn in Estes Park. He says the blaze stands at 20 acres, 75% contained and in the final mop up stages. 20 homes and one additional structure burned. Evacuations remain in place.

It remains a Red Flag Day across most of the state. Last night's Heat IR perimeter map [.pdf] has been released. The daily progression map [.pdf] shows the growth of the fire from the last 24hrs, mostly in the southwestern flank and in some spot fires between Highway 14 and Glacier View.

The High Park Fire by the numbers today:

  • 82,114 acres
  • 45% containement
  • The current estimated cost to date is $27.6 million dollars.
  • 1923 personnel (this is expected to climb today when additional resources arrive)
  • 13 Type 1 hand crews
  • 21 Type 2 hand crews
  • 154 engines
  • 11 dozers
  • 27 water tenders
  • 6 Type 1 helicopters
  • 3 Type 2 helicopters
  • 6 Type 3 helicopters
  • 5 heavy air tankers
  • 1 Type 2 helicopter with a radiometric imaging system attached
  • 1 fixed wing support aircraft
I’m not a Colorado native (did you know that "I'm from Missouri" means "I'm skeptical of the matter and not easily convinced?") but I have lived here for most of my life and couldn't imagine leaving. After graduating from Colorado State University, I did what everyone wants to do; I moved to the mountains and skied, hiked, and hid from responsibility! Our listeners in the mountains may know me from my time in Steamboat Springs and Vail or as the voice of the Battle Mountain Huskies Hockey team in Vail.
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