Courtesy of Kyle Miler, Wyoming HotshotsThe Wyoming Hotshots work with the Snake River and Idaho City hotshots to burn a pice of ground from the back edge of the fire to protect the narrow gauge Silverton railroad tracks on June 5, 2018.
Courtesy of Colton BranstetterA view of the 416 fire from Missionary ridge, on June 9, 2018.
Jerry McBride, The Durango Herald via APIn this Monday, June 11, 2018, photo, Randy Black, left, deputy chief of Durango Fire Protection District, and Mike Tombolato, a Rocky Mountain Type One Team member, look over as a fire burns around homes south of County Road 202 during a burnout operation, a technique used to consume fuel from a growing wildfire, near Durango, Colo.
Jerry McBride, The Durango Herald via APIn this Monday, June 11, 2018, photo, flames consume trees during a burnout operation that was performed south of County Road 202 near Durango, Colo. Firefighters use the technique as a means to control wildfires.
Courtesy of Kyle Miler, Wyoming HotshotsThe Wyoming hotshots join the San Juan Hotshots and start working the 416 Fire's edge on June 1, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostArt Nichols mows his lawn along Highway 550 as the large plume of the 416 fire begins to build in the dry afternoon in the San Juan National Forest on June 12, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has burned over 22,000 acres. The county enacted Stage 3 fire restrictions and made the unusual move to close the San Juan National Forest as the 416 Fire continues to burn.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostKyle Swanstrom, right, a firefighter with a Type II hand crew with Idaho Department of Lands, chats with members of his crew after gearing up before heading out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.
Courtesy of Kyle Miler, Wyoming HotshotsA ponderosa bine had a dead core and fire had started to burn it. The tree was going to fall above a road, so the Wyoming Hot shots worked to fall the tree, on June 7, 2018.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBurned trees along a ridge line can be seen in the forest where the 416 fire burned on June 13, 2018 near Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has now burned 26,500 acres. The fire is 15% contained. No homes have burned and no firefighters have been injured.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostColorado State Patrol officer Ben Stuever directs homeowners as he allows them to go through the road closure along Highway 550 on June 13, 2018 in Hermosa. Homeowners living in a select group of neighborhoods past Hermosa were allowed past the road closure to go back home after almost 2 weeks of being evacuated because of the 415 fire. Highway 550 has been closed at Hermosa since the start of the fire. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has now burned 26,500 acres. No homes have burned and no firefighters have been injured.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostCyclists look at the large plume of the 416 fire as they make their way up Highway 160 on June 12, 2018 near Hesperus. The 416 fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has burned over 22,000 acres.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBlake Gammon, 4, left and his sister Brielle, 2, came from Farmington, New Mexico with their mother, Kelsey, not pictured, to watch the 416 fire along Highway 550 on June 12, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has burned over 22,000 acres.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSara Moles, left, a barista at Durango Joe's, wears a mask to protect her lungs from the smoke caused by the 416 fire as she serves coffee to customers on June 13, 2018 in Durango. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has now burned 25,900 acres. No homes have burned and no firefighters have been injured.
HERMOSA, CO - JUNE 12: A large helicopter returns for water after making a water drop on the 416 fire on June 12, 2018 in Hermosa, Colorado. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has burned over 22,000 acres. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostCody Griffin, a crew boss with Idaho Department of Lands, oversees his crew as they prepare to head out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostCoty Newby, a firefighter with a Type II hand crew with Idaho Department of Lands, prepares his gear with his crew before heading out for the day on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA firefighter takes ice to his crew as he makes his way through fire camp before heading back out on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBurned trees and scorched earth can be seen in the forest where the 416 fire burned on June 13, 2018 near Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has now burned 26,500 acres. The fire is 15% contained. No homes have burned and no firefighters have been injured.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBurned trees and scorched earth can be seen in the forest where the 416 fire burned on June 13, 2018 near Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has now burned 26,500 acres. The fire is 15% contained. No homes have burned and no firefighters have been injured.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostKen Gregor, Operations Sections chief trainee, points out fire activity of the 416 Fire on a map during a media briefing at the Incident Command at Animas Valley Elementary school on June 13, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, has burned an estimated 26,500 acres. No homes have burned and no firefighters have been injured. The black lines on the map at right are containment lines. The fire is 15% contained.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSawyer Jack Nerison, a member of the Montana Bitterroot Hotshots, takes a moment to sharpen the teeth on his chain saw as he and other members used saws and hand tools to put in a shaded fuel break and cut a hand line around a home along County Road 205 to protect it from the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms were expected to potentially bring in strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1st.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSawyer Luke Brehm, a member of the Montana Bitterroot Hotshots, finishes cutting in a shaded fuel break and a hand line around a home along County Road 205 to protect it from the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms were expected to potentially bring in strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1st.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostMembers of the Montana Bitterroot Hotshots use hand tools and chain saws to put in a shaded fuel break and cut a hand line around a home along County Road 205 to protect it from the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms were expected to potentially bring in strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1st.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBurned trees and scorched earth can be seen in the forest where the 416 fire burned on June 13, 2018 near Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has now burned 26,500 acres. The fire is 15% contained. No homes have burned and no firefighters have been injured.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA large helicopter looks for a spot to make a water drop on the 416 fire on June 12, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has burned over 22,000 acres.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostHermosa residents Mandy and Andy Dougherty made a sign to thank firefighters for saving their home from the 416 fire on June 12, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has burned over 22,000 acres. The couple, who are still evacuated, said their home came very close to burning but was saved by firefighters.
Jerry McBride, The Durango Herald via APSmoke rises from the 416 Fire behind the U.S. Highway 550 road block at Cometti Lane on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, near Durango, Colo.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostBurned trees and scorched earth can be seen in the forest where the 416 fire burned on June 13, 2018 near Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has now burned 26,500 acres. The fire is 15% contained. No homes have burned and no firefighters have been injured.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostThe large plume of the 416 fire begins to build in the dry afternoon in the San Juan National Forest on June 12, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has burned over 22,000 acres. The county enacted Stage 3 fire restrictions and made the unusual move to close the San Juan National Forest as the 416 Fire continues to burn.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA large helicopter makes a water drop on the 416 fire on June 12, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has burned over 22,000 acres.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFirefighters make their way back from breakfast at fire camp before heading back out on the fire line of the 416 Fire on June 14, 2018 in Hermosa. The fire is estimated at about 32,000 acres with only 15% containment. Predicted thunderstorms may bring strong outflow winds and increase the potential for extreme fire behavior today. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostA home sits in a green area right next to a completely burned hillside on June 13, 2018 near Hermosa. The fire, burning 23 miles northwest of Durango, started June 1 and has now burned 26,500 acres. The fire is 15% contained. No homes have burned and no firefighters have been injured.
Courtesy of Kyle Miler, Wyoming Hotshots
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The Wyoming Hotshots work with the Snake River and Idaho City hotshots to burn a pice of ground from the back edge of the fire to protect the narrow gauge Silverton railroad tracks on June 5, 2018.
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By Helen H. Richardson | hrichardson@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED:
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The 416 fire began on June 1, 2018, and quickly spread into the sixth-largest wildfire in Colorado history. The flames triggered thousands of evacuations, caused millions of dollars in damage to the local economy and shut down the San Juan National Forest for the first time in its 113-year history. Firefighters battled the blaze for two months before it was fully contained at the end of July.