Mother Nature tempered one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history with dousing rain storms, turning 30,208 acres of torched land into smolders.
Only isolated pockets of the Bull Draw fire in the thickest and heaviest timber areas show any signs of life, according to a daily fire report.
Cooler temperatures Tuesday could help the remaining 61 firefighters extend containment lines beyond the current level of 54 percent.
Hotter temperatures and lower humidity forecast for Wednesday and the remainder of the week raise some concerns.
Bull Draw fire
The lightning-caused wildfire 12 miles northwest of Nucla has hardly moved at all the past week. And on Tuesday, with lower temperatures, the fire isn’t expected to advance.
Fire crews will mop up the hottest areas of the fire and monitor the perimeter to ensure it doesn’t escape through existing perimeter lines.
Firefighters are using bulldozers and other heavy equipment to improve and extend fire lines.
Silver Creek fire
The lightning-caused fire burning about 16 miles northwest of Kremmling did not advance Monday night despite gusting winds, largely because of soaking rains. The fire was smoldered in isolated areas where there were large trees.
Currently, 132 firefighters are working to extend fire lines around the 4,772-acre wildfire.
Containment is at 50 percent. Firefighters are installing water sprinkler bars, removing hazardous trees and chipping debris to reduce fuels and minimize erosion.
Firefighters are constructing fire lines along Routt National Forest roads.
Wildfires in Colorado and the U.S.
The map shows active wildfire locations and all 2018 fire perimeters*. The map defaults to Colorado; to see all wildfires, click “U.S.” in the view area. Click the map layers icon in the top right corner of the map to change map backgrounds and to toggle active and contained fires, and perimeters. Click a marker or perimeter for details. To view the full map and a table of all 2018 wildfires, click here.
*Data comes from two sources, and , and could contain inconsistencies. Map by Kevin Hamm and Daniel J. Schneider.