Left Hand Canyon Fire: Chronolog of Events March 11 & 13 2011
This is a play list of 11 videos shot March 11 &12 at Left Hand Fire with Strike Team Bravo wild land fire fighters, press conference, Evacuees, with Jann Scott and Boulder Channel 1.
3/15 8:30am We’ve gotten good at managing Forrest Fires, unfortuneately That according to USFS forest service spokeswoman to Boulder Channel 1 news. Meaning, the Four Mile fire and a few others since have made us all real pros at handing catastrophic wildland fires….”it’s unfortunate we have had to”
We are almost laissez-faire about it. Boulder just missed the bullet with this last Lefthand fire. New video from Boulder Channel 1 shows fire coming within feet of several million dollar homes in Lefthand canyon. If it wasn’t for the very fast work of neighbors and firemen, we surely would have lost 12 or more homes in the first hours of the fire. The video will appear on our Channel 22 show 22Boom later later this week. From a media perspective , the county, OEM, forest service and city were far more forth coming in their release of information. During Four Mile Canyon fire, they with held information when many homes were lost at the outset.
Twitter was far more settled down during this event too. We had an on going gun fight with twitter kids. That is generally not advised for a news organization to recognize or fight with individual readers. Our SM kids on staff told us to,so we did, but it was a diversion to the story of Fourmile Canyon Fire which was a monster devouring the earth. Regardless of what we got wrong. We got most of it right and way ahead of city, county and USFS release of info. However, this time we were far more conservative in our reporting, but then again, this was a small fire. Still, we don’t think the public is aware of just how close the residents of Left Hand Canyon came to losing the whole canyon. Very close.
Lefthand Canyon OHV Area Fire 90 percent contained, crews continue to make progress
From the U.S. Forest Service: Crews had another successful day making progress on Lefthand Canyon Fire. Now 90 percent contained. Lefthand Fire Protection District will be patrolling the fireline this evening. Fifty firefighters will staff the fire tomorrow which includes the San Carlos and Payette 20-person handcrews. These hand crews will continue to mop up hotspots within 200 feet of the outer edge of the fire.
3/14 9:40am USFS Incident Overview
Today firefighters will continue their work to build the last portions of fireline needed to secure the Lefthand Canyon OHV Area Fire located on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest, eight miles north-northwest of Boulder. This is the most difficult part of the fireline to construct due to steep, rugged terrain. Four 20-person handcrews and seven engines will be building and securing fireline, and mopping up hotspots that are within 200 feet of the fireline. Lefthand Fire Protection District will be mopping up hotspots near the structures. A helicopter is available to assist crews as needed. The fire is 80 percent contained and 622 acres.
Firefighters continue to focus on public and firefighter safety as well as structure protection. Temperatures are expected to be warmer today in the low 60s. This afternoon the humidity is expected to drop and the winds are expected to increase.
The Lefthand OHV Area will remain closed while firefighters continue their work. Lefthand Canyon Drive is open to the public. Please use caution and watch out for firefighting equipment and firefighters in the area. For more road restrictions, road closures or evacuations visit the Boulder Office of Emergency Management website.
Our next update of this information is expected around 1:30 p.m.
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Human-caused
Date of Origin Friday March 11th, 2011 approx. 10:35 AM
Location Started in Chaos Canyon
Incident Commander Dave Buchanan, Usfs
Current Situation
Total Personnel 125
Size 622 acres
Percent Contained 80%
Fuels Involved
Burning in ponderosa pine with grassy understory
Outlook
Planned Actions
Seven engines and four handcrews will be working the fire. Crews will be constructing the last portion of fireline, mopping up hotspots near the fireline and patrolling the fireline today. The helicopter will be available to assist them as needed. Lefthand Fire Protections District will be mopping up hotspots near structures.
Terrain Difficulty
Steep, rugged terrain
Remarks
Firefighters working on the fire are made of local volunteer fire departments, county, state and federal resources as well as crews from Arizona (San Carlos Crew), Grand Junction (Juniper Crew), Idaho (Payette Hotshots) and Craig (Green River Crew). Structure Protection continues and is provided by the Lefthand Fire Protection District. The fire cause is still under investigation.
3/13 10 p.m. – Lefthand Canyon Fire is 80 percent contained, all roads are open
The fire is now 80 percent contained and 622 acres. The increase in size is due to better mapping today. Firefighters will patrol the fire this evening. The U.S. Forest Service will continue to post updates on the fire at: www.inciweb.org/incident/2154/.
3/13 6:15 p.m. – Lefthand Canyon Drive open, please use caution around equipment still being used
Lefthand Canyon Drive opened to all traffic at 6 p.m. tonight. Emergency vehicles and fire fighting equipment will continue to use Lefthand Canyon Drive for the next several days to proceed with mop up on the fire.
For safety purposes and in order to safeguard the appartus being used to contain the fire, the Sheriff’s Office is requesting that drivers reduce their speed on the stretch of road where firefighting equipment is being used. Also, in order to maintain a safe setting for firefighting crews and area residents, fire officials have requested unimpeded access for emergency responders along Lefthand Canyon Drive. As a result, recreationalists and people who don’t need to use Lefthand Canyon Drive to access their homes are asked to avoid the canyon until firefighting crews have finished with operations.
USFS INCIDENT UPDATED
Incident Overview
Firefighters made good progress on Lefthand Canyon OHV Area Fire located on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest, eight miles north-northwest of Boulder. The fire is now 80 percent contained and 622 acres. The increase in size is due to better mapping of the fire. Firefighters continue to focus on public and firefighter safety as well as structure protection. Tonight residents may continue to see smoke and flames within the fire area. Firefighters will be patrolling the fireline this evening.
Tomorrow seven engines and four handcrews will be working the fire. The helicopter will be available to assist them as needed.
The Lefthand OHV Area will remain closed while firefighters continue their work. Lefthand Canyon Drive will open to the public this evening. Please use caution watch out for firefighting equipment and firefighters in the area. For more road restrictions, road closures or evacuations visit the Boulder Office of Emergency Management website.
Our next update of this information is expected around 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Human-caused
Date of Origin Friday March 11th, 2011 approx. 10:35 AM
Location Started in Chaos Canyon
Incident Commander Dave Buchanan, Usfs
Current Situation
Total Personnel 125
Size 622 acres
Percent Contained 80%
Fuels Involved
Burning in ponderosa pine with grassy understory
Outlook
Planned Actions
Firefighters will patrol the fireline this evening. Smoke and flames may be visible within the fire boundary. Tomorrow seven engines and four handcrews will be working the fire. The helicopter will be available to assist them as needed.
Terrain Difficulty
Steep, rugged terrain
Remarks
Firefighters working on the fire are made of local volunteer fire departments, county, state and federal resources as well as crews from Arizona (San Carlos Crew), Grand Junction (Juniper Crew), Idaho (Payette Hotshots) and Craig (Green River Crew). Structure Protection continues and is provided by the Lefthand Fire Protection District. The fire cause is still under investigation. Firefighters saw a mountain lion chasing a deer today within the fire area.
3/13 12 p.m. – Lefthand Canyon Fire reached 600 acres, area still closed to public access
According to U.S. Forest Service officials, firefighters will continue their work today to build and secure handline around the Lefthand Canyon OHV Area Fire. Better mapping changed the acreage of the fire to 600 acres. The fire is 60 percent contained and the remaining 40 percent of the fire is in steep difficult terrain with no road access. An air tanker and two helicopters are available to assist firefighters today as needed. Lefthand OHV Area remains closed. Heil Ranch Open Space also remains closed. Local residents only are allowed in the areas where firefighting equipment is being used.
3/13/11 8:00am INCIDENT UPDATED USFS
Incident Overview
Today Firefighters will continue their work to build and secure handline around the Lefthand Canyon OHV Area Fire located on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest. The fire is located eight miles north-northwest of Boulder. The fire is 60 percent contained. The remaining 40 percent of the fire is in steep difficult terrain with no road access. Firefighters will be assisted by both an air tanker and two helicopters if needed today. Firefighters continue to focus on public and firefighter safety as well as structure protection. Last night the fire received a small amount of light rain for a very short duration. The fire size is now 600 acres due to better mapping. Improved mapping of the fire will continue today.
The Lefthand OHV Area will remain closed while firefighters continue their work. Lefthand Canyon Drive is open to limited traffic today. For more road restrictions, road closures or evacuations visit the Boulder Office of Emergency Management website.
Our next update of this information is expected tomorrow morning around 1:00 p.m.
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Human-caused
Date of Origin Friday March 11th, 2011 approx. 10:35 AM
Location Started in Chaos Canyon
Incident Commander Dave Buchanan, Usfs
Current Situation
Total Personnel 150
Size 600 acres
Percent Contained 60%
Fuels Involved
Burning in ponderosa pine with grassy understory
Outlook
Planned Actions
Firefighters continue their work to build and secure handline. They will be assisted by two helicopters and an airtanker as needed.
Terrain Difficulty
Steep, rugged terrain
Remarks
Firefighters working on the fire are made of local volunteer fire departments, county, state and federal resources as well as crews from Arizona (San Carlos Crew), Grand Junction (Juniper Crew), Idaho (Payette Hotshots) and Craig (Green River Crew). Structure Protection continues and is provided by the Lefthand Fire Protection District. The change in acreage was due to better mapping. Improved mapping work will continue today.
3/12 2:30 p.m. – Remaining Lefthand Canyon Fire evacuations to be lifted at 5 p.m. following a safety briefing for residents
At 5 p.m. today, all remaining mandatory evacuations for the Lefthand Canyon Fire will be lifted following a safety briefing for residents by the Lefthand Fire Protection District chief.
Residents of the fifteen to twenty homes that remain under mandatory evacuation along the north side of Lefthand Canyon Drive from Geer Canyon to the three mile marker are asked to check-in with Fire Chief Stoffel at the Lefthand Fire Protection District Station, 900 Lefthand Canyon Drive, at 5 p.m. today for a brief safety advisement before returning home. The briefing is intended to help residents become aware of existing dangers in the fire area and be prepared to spot changes in the fire that may prompt another evacuation. Contact: Lefthand Fire Protection District (720) 214-0560
Killer interview with Mary Beth Peacock NFS on all details of Left hand Canyon fire. EXPLAINS A LOT
March 12, 2008 Sheriff Comander Rick Braum Press Conf. Left Hand Canyon Fire talks about fire . Boulder channel 1 covered this entire event.
2/12/ noon Forest service says fire over 400 acres At todays press conference The Forest Service spokesperson said the fire was over 400 acres and that they are currently doing a GPS study to find out exactly how big it is.
Incident Overview
Last night firefighters made good progress on the Lefthand Canyon OHV Area Fire located on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest. The fire is located eight miles north-northwest of Boulder. Incident Commander Dave Buchanan reported that burn out operations went well and increased containment of the fire and their constant and considerable effort to secure Lefthand Drive. Firefighters continue to focus on public and firefighter safety as well as structure protection. Today firefighters will continue to build and secure fireline. They will be assisted by a helicopter that will be dropping water on the fire. Weather conditions are expected to be more favorable today with increased humidity, lower winds and temperatures and a 30 percent chance of rain or snow tonight.
For the latest information on road closures and evacuations visit the Boulder Office of Emergency Management website.
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Human-caused
Date of Origin Friday March 11th, 2011 approx. 10:35 AM
Location Started in Chaos Canyon
Incident Commander Dave Buchanan, Usfs
Current Situation
Total Personnel 150
Size 400 acres
Percent Contained 60%
Fuels Involved
Burning in ponderosa pine with grassy understory
Outlook
Planned Actions
Firefighters will continue to build and secure fireline today. Four 20-person handcrews will be working the fire today assisted by a helicopter dropping water. One more helicopter is on order. An additional 20-person crew is expected to arrive tonight.
Remarks
Twelve homes and six out buildings are threatened. Containment of the fire is mostly on the west, south and eastside of the fire. Fire managers will be improving the map of the fire today.
3/12, 12:00 p.m. EOC deactivating at 12 noon, Media Briefing at 3 p.m.
Due to the continued progress being made on the fire, the Office of Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center (EOC) demobilized at 12 noon today. Once a fire reaches a high level of containment and no additional support is needed by the EOC, the EOC is deactivated.
The USFS will continue to remain in command of fire operations. For additional updates on the fire, please visit the U.S. Forest Service incident management website at: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2154/
Two recorded hotlines will be updated with automated messages throughout the day:
Boulder County Call Center: 303-413-7730
U.S. Forest Service Fire Information line: 970-498-1030
A media briefing will be held at 3 p.m. today at the McGuckin Hardware warehouse parking lot on U.S. 36 at Neva Rd. Maribeth Pecotte from the U.S. Forest Service and Commander Rick Brough (pronounced “Bruff”) with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office will be available for interviews.
3/12, 10:10 a.m. The USFS is reporting that the fire is now 60% contained
The USFS is reporting that the fire is now 60 percent contained. The U.S. Forest Service is posting information about the Lefthand OHV Area Fire on their national Incident Information System website: http://inciweb.org/incident/2154/. Please check this website for updates specific to fire activity and suppression efforts.
3/12, 10 a.m. Update on Evacuation
Fire crews and the Sheriff’s Office are hopeful that evacuees should be allowed back in their homes sometime this afternoon. Prior to allowing residents back into their homes, crews will be clearing potential fire hazards from within a 200-foot perimeter around each structure. They will be on hand while power lines are recharged to ensure sparks don’t ignite.
Lefthand Canyon between U.S. 36 and James Canyon remains closed for fire crews to be able to move equipment through the area. Residents will need to provide identification and proof of residency in that area when returning to their homes.
A heavy tanker is in the air helping fight the fire. A helicopter, capable of carrying 1,000 gallons of water, should be in the air soon for additional support.
Marsha Flint who has one of the houses up Left Hand Canyon tells how she and her husband got out and how two fire teams saved her house. Boulder Channel 1 interviewed her.
Jann Scott with Boulder Channel 1 catches 5 fire departments as the get ready to attack Left Hand Fire late in the day of March 11. Division Bravo strike team from West Metro Lakewood, Boulder Rural, EverGreen, Fairfield, Genesse, Brush Wild land firefighters prepare for long night and battle ahead.
Jann Scott gets upto fire as strike team prepares assault on raging inferno.
Boulder channel 1′s Boulder Heros LeftHand Fire: WestMetro Lakewood fire, Evergreen, Boulder Rural Genesse, Fairfield, Brush, fire departments create a 15 man strike team who head out into the blaze to keep it from crossing Left hand Canyon at old stage as an inferno rages in front of them. Jann Scott and boulder channel 1 were on the line with them and capture this footage as these heros headed out into the night to help save boulder heights
Boulder Channel 1 with West Metro Fire at LeftHand on Fire line.Jann Scott with Boulder channel 1 hooks up with West Metro Lakewood strike team at Old Stage and Left hand canyon road as fire rages in front of them. Heros walk into harms way to protect Boulder
3/11 6:15 p.m.Back burns will result in heavier smoke
Firefighters are setting back burns on Lefthand Canyon Drive from Olde Stage to the
target practice area. Heavy smoke will be visible as a result of this fire suppression effor
3/11 5:52 – Update on Animal Shelter info
The Longmont Humane Society will remain open until 8:30 p.m. for those who
need to drop off pets. The Humane Society of Boulder Valley will be open tonight until 8:15.
3/11 5:20 p.m. Air quality advisory
Due to the possibility of rapid weather changes, it is difficult to predict the condition of air quality related to current the fire.
In general, if you can see or smell smoke, it is recommended that you avoid outdoor physical activities. If visibility is decreased in your neighborhood to less than five miles, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.
Children, Elderly, and People with Respiratory Conditions
If you can see or smell smoke, children, elderly, pregnant women, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions should stay inside with the windows and doors closed. If it is hot outside, run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.
Children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke because their airways are still developing and because they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Children also are more likely to be active outdoors.
Older adults are more likely to be affected by smoke, as they have higher levels of heart or lung diseases than younger people.
Follow your doctor’s advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.Healthy Individuals
When smoke levels are high, even healthy people may experience coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, stinging eyes, and a runny nose. If you can see or smell smoke, you should limit outdoor physical activities and stay indoors if at all possible.
Wildfire smoke contains pollutants that can be harmful to health. Particles from smoke tend to be very small and can therefore be inhaled into the deepest recesses of the lung and may represent a greater health concern than larger particles. Even in healthy people, this can cause temporary reductions in lung function and pulmonary inflammation. Particulate matter can also affect the body’s immune system.
Air quality updates are available at .
3/11 4:40 Evacuation update
Lefthand Canyon evacuations remain in place. Subdivisions north of Lake of the Pines, including Lake of the Pines, are reopened.
3/11 3:00pm Boulder Valley School buss routes Due to the fire in Lefthand Canyon today Friday, March 11, a few bus routes from Boulder High School, Foothill Elementary School, Centennial Middle School and Jamestown Elementary School have been affected. The schools have notified the students and parents affected to pick up their students.
At this time, neighborhoods that have been evacuated include Lefthand Subdivision, Mtn. Ridge, Mtn. Shadows, Lakeridge Trail, Streamcrest, North Foothills Ranch and Lake of Pines as of 2:30 PM this afternoon (3/11). An evacuation point has been set at the YMCA at 2850 Mapleton, Boulder. An “evacuation point” is simply a place to meet and connect with other people affected by the evacuations.
3/11/2:40pm INCIDENT UPDATED
Incident Overview
Firefighters are responding to a fire in the Lefthand Canyon area on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest. They are battling dry conditions and gusty winds. The fire is located eight miles north-northwest of Boulder.
Boulder Office of Emergency Management has issued an evacuation order. Please check their website (link to the right) for the latest evacuation information.
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Undetermined
Date of Origin Friday March 11th, 2011 approx. 10:35 AM
Location Started in Chaos Canyon
Incident Commander Dave Buchanan, Usfs
Current Situation
Size 200 acres
Fuels Involved
Burning in ponderosa pine with grassy understory
Outlook
3/11 2:00 pm According to Sarah Huntley city of Boulder Public information officer working at the Office of Emergency management, ”223 phone calls were made to evacuate the area. ” It is not known if there are that many homes threatened, but a cluster of home just north of left hand Canyon are being threatened. The fire is growing she said. She did say that fire scanner traffic indicated upward of 100 acres but this could not be confirmed. No homes are lost, there are no injuries and no loss of life has been reported to OEM.
11 1:25 p.m. – Air resources en route
An air tanker has been ordered out of New Mexico and is on it’s way with an expected arrival of 3:30 p.m. Firefighters will assess wind conditions before determining if air support is possible.
3/11 1:17 pm A call center for residents is available at 303-413-7730. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless it is an emergency. Anyone who lives in or around the area affected by the road closures and evacuations, or who is impacted by the events related to the fire, should contact the call center for assistance.
Emergency Status
03/11 1 p.m. – More evacuation information
Homes on the north side of Lefthand Canyon Drive have been ordered evacuated, more specifically, homes from the 3000 block of Lefthand Canyon Drive to Foothills Highway.
Evacuees are encouraged to check in at an evacuation center at the YMCA at 28th and Mapleton in Boulder.
Notification messages are also being sent from south of Lefthand Canyon Drive to Middle Fork Road. Residents are there are encouraged to remain alert and be prepared to evacuate, if emergency officials determine that is necessary for public safety reasons.
3/11 12:20 p.m. – Fire is estimated at 20 acres moving east from 3 MM on Lefthand Canyon Dr.
Fire is estimated at 20 acres moving east from 3 MM on Lefthand Canyon Dr. towards entrance to Boulder County Heil Ranch Open Space off Lefthand Canyon Dr.
Lefthand Canyon Dr. is closed form U.S. 36 to James Canyon.
Mandatory evacuations have been called for approximately 223 households in the Lefthand Canyon Dr. area, include Lake of the Pines subdivision to the north.
Large animals are being evacuated to Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont
A call center for residents is being established. The phone number will be 303-413-7730 when it is activated.
Information for both the Lefthand Canyon Fire (aka Lefthand Shooting Area Fire per inciweb) and Longmont Dam Road Fire is being posted online on Boulder Office of Emergency Management’s site at http://boulderoem.com/emergency-status. Fire information for the Lefthand Canyon Fire is also being posted on the by the U.S. Forest Service on Inciweb at http://inciweb.org/incident/2154/.
The hashtag being used to track posts for both fires via Twitter is #boulderfire.
There is also a public information line being established by Boulder OEM. That number is 303-413-7730
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Labels: incidents, wildland fire
INCIDENT UPDATED 9 MIN. AGO
Incident Overview
Firefighters are responding to a fire in the Lefthand Canyon area on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest. They are battling dry conditions and gusty winds. The fire is located eight miles north-northwest of Boulder.
Boulder Office of Emergency Management has issued an evacuation order. Please check their website (link to the right) for the latest evacuation information.
Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Undetermined
Date of Origin Friday March 11th, 2011 approx. 10:00 AM
Incident Commander Dave Buchanan, Usfs
Current Situation
Total Personnel 9
Size 20 acres
Fuels Involved
Heavy smoke and flames in ponderosa pine with grassy understory
Outlook
Planned Actions
Firefighters hiking into the area.
Road Closures
Incident: Lefthand Shooting Area Fire Wildfire
Released: 18 min. ago
Lefthand Canyon Dr. is closed form U.S. 36 to James Canyon.
BoulderCountyOS Bo Co Open Space
Heil Valley Ranch closed at both trailheads as a precaution due to the Lefthand Canyon Fire. Rangers stationed at north and south trailheads
3/11 12:40 p.m. – Evacuation Center at the YMCA; small animal shelter info
The American Red Cross is opening up an evacuation center at the YMCA, 2850 Mapleton Ave. in Boulder, starting at 1 p.m. Evacuees are encouraged to go there and check in, even if they have other places to stay.
The Humane Society of Boulder Valley and the Longmont Humane Society are accepting small animals for care and shelter as a result of the Lefthand Canyon fire.
3/11 12:30 p.m. – Road closures
The sheriff’s office has ordered road closures due to the Lefthand Canyon fire. The following points are closed at this time:
Access points to Lefthand Canyon, including, but not limited to, all routes off Highway 36 and the Peak-to-Peak Highway
All access points through the James Canyone and Lee Hill subdivisions.
3/11 12:20 p.m. – Fire is estimated at 20 acres moving east from 3 MM on Lefthand Canyon Dr.
Fire is estimated at 20 acres moving east from 3 MM on Lefthand Canyon Dr. towards entrance to Boulder County Heil Ranch Open Space off Lefthand Canyon Dr.
Lefthand Canyon Dr. is closed form U.S. 36 to James Canyon.
Mandatory evacuations have been called for approximately 223 households in the Lefthand Canyon Dr. area, include Lake of the Pines subdivision to the north.
Large animals are being evacuated to Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont
A call center for residents is being established. The phone number will be 303-413-7730 when it is activated.
3/11 11:30 Wildland fire on Lefthand Canyon Dr.
Heavy smoke reported over foothills area near Lefthand Canyon Drive is a result of wildland fire burning on USFS land near 3700 block. At this time, no structures are in immediate danger, but residents in the area are being informed about the fire. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes availalble.
3/11 10:50 a.m. Firefighters reporting to another small fire in Boulder County (Lefthand Canyon)
There is another small fire in Boulder County, burning in Lefthand Canyon near 3.7 mile marker on U.S. Forest Service land. It is moving slowing and not growing beyond several feet at this time. Lefthand Fire Protection District has reported to the fire. The U.S. Forest Service will provide updates.
3/11 10:45 Wind conditions improving, but still a factor in fighting small wildland fire west of Lyons
Current Button Rock weather: 50 degrees, humidity 26 percent, wind from the northwest at 8 mph. Ridgetop winds northwest at 15-30 mph.
Wind conditions expected to improve a little over the next couple of hours. Winds continue to be from a northwesterly direction and may begin to mix down into the valley. Still potential for gusts to 50 mph on the ridges.
Information on the cause of the fire is available on the City of Longmont’s website.
03/11 08:45 a.m. – Fire size-up
The current size of the fire burning northwest of Botton Rock Reservoir is estimated at less than 2 acres. The fire is burning in an area that includes land owned by the City of Longmont and the U.S. Forest Service. 50 firefighters from eight agencies are working on the fire. High winds have made it difficult to contain, although the fire has low potential to spread because it is burning within an area in the form of a bowl surrounded by rock outcroppings
03/11 08:25 a.m. Longmont Dam Fire status update
50 firefighters are on-scene from the following agencies:
Boulder County Sheriff’s Office
City of Boulder Fire Dept.
Colorado State Forest Service
Lyons Fire Protection District
City of Longmont Fire Dept.
Pinewood Springs Fire Dept.
Lefthand Fire Protection District
Wildand Task Force
Hygiene Fire Dept.
U.S. Forest Service (a representative)
Pridemark Ambulance
Wildland Task Force
Fire is still estimated at 3-5 acres. Up to 10 residences are in the vicinity, none of which are threatened at this time.
A media briefing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. at the staging area established along the west side of U.S. 36 in Lyons across from the Black Bear Inn. Parking lot is coned off for media.
Commander Rick Brough (pronounced “Bruff”), Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, and Commander Jeff Satur, City of Longmont Police Department, will be available for interviews.
03/11 07:25 a.m. – Media briefing scheduled for 9 a.m.
A media briefing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. at the staging area established along the west side of U.S. 36 in Lyons across from the Black Bear Inn. Parking lot is coned off for media.
Commander Rick Brough (pronounced “Bruff”) with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office will be available for interviews.
03/11 6:50 a.m. – Update on “Longmont Dam Road” fire
Fire is located near Longmont Dam Road, north of Button Rock Reservoir. No containment at this time. No structures are immediately threatened. No mandatory evacuations have been issued. 15-20 firefighters are on scene, another 20 are en route.
Fire is in area surrounded by Boulder County Open Space, U.S. Forest Service land, land owned by City of Longmont, and private property.
Agencies responding:
Boulder County Sheriff’s Office
Lyons Fire Protection District
City of Longmont Fire Dept.
Pinewood Springs Fire Dept.
Lefthand Fire Protection District
Wildand Task Force
Hygiene Fire Dept.
U.S. Forest Service (a representative)
Pridemark Ambulance
03/11 5:50 a.m. – Wildland fire near Lyons
Firefighters are working a wildland fire near the Button Rock Reservoir outside Lyons. The fire was reported at about 4:45 a.m. and at the time, appeared to be about three acres. There is a road closure at North St. Vrain Drive and Longmont Dam Road. No evacuations have been ordered at this time. Crews will be evaluating whether there are any structures threatened. The Emergency Operations Center has been activated and Public Information Officers are enroute to assess the situation and begin providing the community with updates as soon as possible.
Red Cross Disaster Alert
Colorado – In response to the Lefthand Canyon Fire in Boulder, the American Red Cross is opening an evacuation center at the YMCA, 2850 Mapleton Ave. in Boulder.
Evacuees are encouraged to go there and check in, even if they have other places to stay.
Only service animals are permitted at Red Cross shelters; however, the Humane Society of Boulder Valley and the Longmont Humane Society are accepting small animals for care and shelter as a result of the Lefthand Canyon fire.
For updates on the fire and firefighting response, visitwww.boulderoem.com.
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