Update: Human-caused Interlaken Fire near Twin Lakes now at 86% containment after burning more than 700 acres
Pre-evacuation notices lifted Saturday afternoon
Summit Daily News
Monday, June 17, 10 a.m.: The Interlaken Fire near Twin Lakes has burned more than 700 acres and is at 86% containment, according to an update released Monday, June 17, around 10 a.m.
The jump in the fire’s size is being attributed to a more accurate assessment that was calculated by a fly over and due to the fire’s spread on the northern boundary as the fire nears the Colorado Trail by the lake, the joint press release stated.
“This area of fire remains uncontrollable,” the release states.
Crews say smoke was more visible yesterday because pockets of unburnt fuel heated and burned throughout the day, but firefighters dropped water on those areas to cool them down.
“Today, firefighters will continue to improve the depth of containment lines by using hoses to extinguish heat near the perimeter of the fire,” the release states. “Firefighters in the North End (DIV A) are protecting trails to limit impact and preserve trees as the fire retreats to the lakeshore.”
Sunday, June 16, 1:20 p.m.: Firefighters were still battling the Interlaken Fire near Twin Lakes on Sunday, as the fire reached 592 acres affected. Containment, however, increased drastically over the weekend, from 15% to 45% from Saturday to Sunday, according to a press release issued Sunday morning by the Type III Incident Management Team handling the response to the wildfire.
The release states that firefighters “had a very productive day” on the fireline Saturday due to lower fire intensity on the perimeter. Firefighters received assistance from helicopters that flew water pumps and hoses to the fireline, which allowed firefighters easier access to water on the western and northern sides of the fire.
On the southern and southeastern sides of the fire, firefighters worked Saturday to establish hand line hoses to extinguish heat near the fire’s perimeter.
Containment on Saturday increased to 45% on the western and northern ends of the fire, according to the release, and pre-evacuation orders were lifted at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 15.
On Sunday, firefighters planned to continue working at the fire’s perimeter to extinguish heat. Other crews were also set to walk outside the fire’s perimeter to check for smoldering heat, while chainsaw crews work to remove hazardous trees along nearby trail systems in the burn area.
Critical fire conditions – warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds – are expected to persist on Monday, according to the release.
Investigators said last week the human-caused wildfire originated from a campfire that was not extinguished properly and was left unattended, possibly for days. On Sunday, officials say 256 personnel were battling the flames.
Saturday, June 15, 2 p.m.: Containment of the Interlaken Fire near Twin Lakes had reached 15% as of early Saturday afternoon, June 15, according to the U.S. Forest Service, and encompassed 591 acres.
A press release was issued Saturday morning by the Type III Incident Management Team handling the response to the fire through the Interlaken Fire Information Facebook page. 277 personnel were on scene battling the blaze as of Saturday morning, according to the incident management team.
The release states that firefighters “took advantage of the cooler weather” Friday to make continued progress building a fireline at the edge of the wildfire.
On the north side, the fire was progressing slowly towards the Interlaken Trail Saturday morning, and firefighters planned to use the trail as a fireline.
Firefighters had completed a direct fireline along the entire southwestern edge of the fire and planned to work to improve and secure the line Saturday, aided by helicopters outfitted with water pumps and hoses.
On the southeastern side of the fire, firefighters were set to continue building direct handline at the edge of the fire.
The fire, the release states, progressed to the edge of a prescribed burn that took place in 2018. The prescribed burn area is acting as a holding feature in the east, slowing and even stopping the progress of the wildfire and giving firefighters direct access to the area.
Public health impacts from smoke were minimal near the Interlaken Fire as of Saturday morning. According to the release, wind and atmospheric mixing were expected to loft smoke away from the surface Saturday.
Weather conditions on Sunday, June 16, are expected to degrade, with a return to dry, hot, windy conditions and a drop in humidity levels, which “could create critical fire weather conditions,” according to the release.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is also in effect over the fire area due to the possibility of unrelated flights impeding firefighting efforts.
Friday, June 14, 9:00 a.m.: The Interlaken Fire near Twin Lakes continues to burn on an estimated 585 acres — just less than a square mile — but was 5% contained as of Friday morning, June 14, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Investigators said the human-caused wildfire originated from a campfire that was not extinguished properly and was left unattended, possibly for days. On Friday morning, officials say 214 personnel were battling the flames.
On Saturday, June 15, a community meeting about the Interlaken Fire is scheduled at 10 a.m. at the Leadville Lake County Fire Station. A video will be uploaded to the Interlaken Fire Information Facebook page following the meeting.
Firefighters worked into the night Thursday, June 13, to protect historic structures near the Interlaken Resort as fire activity picked up near the northwest corner of the wildfire, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Fire managers determined late Thursday that there is now about 5% containment along the northwestern edge of the fire.
On the north side of the fire, the terrain is steep and full of dead and downed lodgepole pines. The fire is reportedly moving slowly through the underbrush in this area, backing up toward the Interlaken Trail, which firefighters plan to use as a fireline.
On the southwest side of the fire, crews are building a direct fireline and plan to connect it to a local roadway, the Forest Service said. More crews are expected to arrive in this area Friday to help construct the fireline.
Firefighting crews are also reportedly gathering information on the location of structures in private land near the southwest edge of the fire.
Local search and rescue crews, meanwhile, are assisting firefighters by using boats to bring supplies across the lake to the fire area. More helicopters are also expected to arrive at the fire with two Type 1, two Type 2 and one Type 3 helicopter planning to assist at the Interlaken Fire on Friday.
Trails in and around the historic Interlaken Resort are closed due to the fire. The surface of Twin Lakes is also closed, and a temporary flight restriction is in place over the fire as operation of drones or other aircraft will interfere with firefighting efforts.
Government agencies throughout Colorado continue to remind residents and visitors of the importance of proper fire safety, including fully dowsing all campfires until they are cool to the touch.
Thursday, June 13, 3:30 p.m.: The Interlaken Fire has grown to an estimated 578 acres but remains 0% contained, according to the federal government’s InciWeb map.
A Type III Incident Management Team is now managing the wildfire, which is mostly on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land. Leadville-Lake County Fire Rescue said on Facebook that “this great resource brings more people, vehicles, & fire equipment.”
Thursday, June 13, 9:30 a.m.: The Interlaken Fire that has so far burned hundreds of acres near a historic landmark at Twin Lakes was caused by a campfire that was not properly extinguished, according to USFS.
As of Thursday morning, June 13, the latest information posted to the Interlaken Fire Information Facebook page said that the wildfire did not appear to have grown significantly overnight. A more detailed update is expected later this morning.
The fire as of Wednesday evening was estimated to have spread to about 443 acres with 0% containment. That’s about triple the size of Disneyland Park in California, which is 160 acres.
An USFS fire investigator briefed authorities on the human-related cause of the fire on Wednesday afternoon, June 12, according to a news release from the Pike-San Isabel National Forest.
It was determined that the fire originated from an abandoned campfire located about 60 yards from the Interlaken Trail and 1.5 miles from the trailhead. The campfire was not properly extinguished and continued to burn — likely for several days, the release states.
Officials do not currently have any leads on who left the fire unattended. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and USFS will reportedly be utilizing a tip line to identify potential suspects. Anyone with information regarding campers with a fire near Interlaken Resort between June 7-11 are asked to call the tip line at 303-275-5266.
The human-cause of the Interlaken Fire has sparked reminders that as summer gets underway, bringing warmer temperatures and drier conditions to the Colorado Rocky Mountains, that nearly 85% of wildfires are caused by humans.
“Reminder: We’re in wildfire season. It’s on us,” Summit Fire & EMS said in a Facebook post Wednesday. “Please be careful with all open flames and make sure your campfires — in your backyard or in the backcountry — are fully extinguished before leaving them, even just for ‘a couple of minutes.'”
The local Summit County fire protection district has been among the crews to respond to the Interlaken Fire, located just southwest of Leadville.
Never leave a campfire that is hot to the touch unattended, even to go to sleep, according to USFS. A fire is not fully extinguished until it is no longer hot to the touch.
To fully extinguish a fire, start by drowning the campfire with water. Then, mix the ashes and embers with soil and scrape all partially-burned sticks and logs to make sure embers are off of them. Make sure everything is wet.
Feel the coals with your hand, including under the rocks to make sure there are no embers underneath. Everything – including the rock fire ring – should be cool to the touch. If it’s not, repeat the steps: Drown it. Stir it. Feel it.
Some of the largest and most devastating wildfires in Colorado’s history have been human-caused.
Historically, wildfire “seasons” were a four-month event in the middle of the summer. But compared to the 1970s, the wildfire season in Colorado has grown by 78 days, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says human-caused climate change, including increased heat and extended drought, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the West in the last two decades.
Wednesday, June 12, 4:30 p.m.: The Interlaken Fire has grown to 443 acres and is 0% contained, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
The wildfire is burning in timber and heavy dead and down fuels. There are 135 personnel assigned to the fire as well as two four helicopters and an air tanker, the release states.
“The Forest Services uses all available strategies and tools to manage wildfires,” USFS Leadville District Ranger Patrick Mercer said in a statement. “Firefighter and public safety is our first priority.”
Aviation resources are reportedly continuing to drop buckets of water and fire retardant on the wildfire to assist in minimizing the spread. Meanwhile, firefighters are to protect private property, the Interlaken Historic District structures, Canadian lynx habitat and utility infrastructure, the release states.
Currently there is no camping on the east side of Twin Lakes or around Interlaken trailhead. Willis Gulch trailhead is closed.
Wednesday, June 12, 3 p.m: The Interlaken Fire has grown to an estimated 413 acres, according to the Bureau of Land Management’s Colorado Fire Information map.
Wednesday, June 12, 11:30 a.m.: No structures were threatened as of Tuesday evening, June 11, by the wildfire that sparked at the Interlaken Historic District near Twin Lakes about 12 miles southwest of Leadville, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the fire was estimated at 164 acres, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a news release published later that evening. Historic district buildings are not threatened at this time “due to fire staff on site who have provided structure protection efforts,” the release states.
Leadville-Lake County Fire Rescue, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and St. Vincent Health Ambulance Service first responded to the scene around 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday. Now, since the fire is on U.S. Forest Service land, fire suppression responsibility has been turned over to USFS, the news release states.
Some people recreating near Twin Lakes were evacuated by Lake County Sheriff’s Office and local search and rescue, including hikers who were transported to safety by boat, the release states. Pre-evacuation notices that were issued to residences on Lost Canyon Road and in Balltown were lifted late Tuesday evening. But the Sheriff’s Office reinstated the pre-evacuation notice at Lost Canyon Road early Wednesday morning.
Resources from Lake County Search & Rescue, Vail Fire & Emergency Services, Chaffee County Fire Protection District, Breckenridge-based Red, White, & Blue Fire Protection District, Summit Fire & EMS, and USFS have responded, the release states. Fire resources reportedly remained at the site throughout the night.
The Interlaken Historic Resort located along the southern shore of Twin Lakes was first built by John A. Staley as the Lakeside Resort in the 1870s, according to USFS. The popular mountain hotel was later purchased by James V. Dexter in 1883, who expanded it into a world-class resort, added 2,000 acres and renamed it Interlaken.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office warned that wildfire smoke could impact air quality in the area. Wildfire smoke from the Interlaken Fire could also waft through the surrounding mountain region on Wednesday, according to forecasts.
Tuesday, June 11, 7 p.m.: Evacuations are underway after a wildfire sparked near Twin Lakes south of Leadville on Tuesday afternoon, June 11, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 2 p.m., the Lake County government said on Facebook that local firefighters were on scene at the wildfire near the Interlaken Resort in the Twin Lakes area. USFS reported that the wildfire is 165 acres in size, and a helicopter has been called to assist with firefighting efforts.
The Sheriff’s Office called for the Interlaken area and County Road 25 to be evacuated as well as for pre-evacuation efforts to take place on Lost Canyon Road. Up to date information on evacuations related to the Interlaken Fire can be found at Facebook.com/lcso2019.
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