Moisture streaming into southwestern and southern Colorado increased relative-humidity levels and cooled temperatures just a bit, giving firefighters long-awaited aid in battling wildland fires. Containment estimates on the Spring Creek and 416 fires increased Friday as firefighters took advantage of improved weather conditions to close out the week.
SPRING CREEK FIRE
When rain came to the Spring Creek fire area, people stopped what they were doing and literally danced in the streets.
The fire in Costilla and Huerfano counties in southern Colorado has burned more than 105,000 acres and was 35 percent contained as of Friday, according to fire officials.
U.S. 160 over La Veta Pass is scheduled to reopen at 2 p.m. Saturday, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. The pass has been closed since June 27.
The plume still looks quite intimidating. It currently sits at 105,704 acres with 35% containment. The La Veta Pass is set to open tomorrow.
— Mikayla Ortega (@Mikayla_Ortega1)
There wasn’t much rain in the area. Nearby Fort Garland posted five-hundredths of an inch of moisture from 7 a.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday. Walsenburg, east of the fire, had just over eight-tenths of an inch over the same period, according to the National Weather Service.
What little moisture the fire area received was welcomed by locals and firefighters.
“Moisture helped reduce fire behavior” Thursday, fire officials said. “Throughout the day, the fire calmed to smoldering and creeping activity.”
In days leading up to Thursday, the fire had raced through the tinder-dry countryside, scorching thousands of acres daily.
Fire officials on Friday said that during adverse weathers conditions, including after thunderstorms, rugged terrain and high ridges are as much a safety concern as fire conditions. A flash flood watch was in effect for the area Friday. Relative humidity climbed into the 30- to 34-percent range, with high temperatures topping out in the lower 80s.
As people rejoiced over the limited moisture, other issues, including spoiled foods, arose. Power outages in the area caused by the stubborn fire, it started on June 27, has led to massive food spoilage, in homes and businesses. Three major festivals planned for the area were canceled by the fire. Tourism dollars went up in smoke.
416 FIRE
North of Durango the 416 fire has burned more than 54,000 acres, and containment was at 50 percent on Friday, fire officials said.
Increasing subtropical moisture is expected to move into southwest Colorado through the weekend, including afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Rain accumulation of about a quarter inch is forecast Saturday, with up to the same on Sunday, fire officials said.
“A quasi-monsoon pattern is setting up,” said Russell Danielson, a meteorologist and NWS spokesman. The current weather pattern is bringing much-needed moisture to the intermountain West in the form of isolated showers and storms.
A high-pressure change in the near future could allow more moisture to stream into the fire area as the summer progresses, Danielson said. Slow thunderstorms are expected in the area Monday and Tuesday.
WESTON PASS FIRE
The fire, started by lightning on June 28 southwest of Fairplay, has moved into the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness area, which is now closed to the public.
The fire has burned about 12,900 acres and was 32 percent contained as of Friday, fire officials said.
U.S. 285 remains closed in both directions from Fairplay to Antero Junction because of the fire, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. There is no estimated time for reopening.
“Severe weather including thunderstorms and cloud-to-ground lightning impacted the fire this afternoon,” fire officials said Friday. “Line personnel moved to staging areas and remained in vehicles until the storm passed before engaging the fire again.”
LAKE CHRISTINE FIRE
Mandatory evacuation orders were lifted at 7 p.m. Friday for the area north of Colorado 82 and west of El Jebel Road/Upper Cattle Creek road to the Garfield County line. The lifting of the order allows 150 families to return to their homes. All other evacuations orders remain in place.
The 5,263 fire, about one mile northwest of Basalt, is 0 percent contained. The fire roared on the night of July 4, destroying three homes. It was first reported on July 3 racing through extremely dry fuels.
At least 925 residences had been evacuated and potentially remain threatened in the Basalt, El Jebel and Missouri Heights areas.