416 Fire

416 Fire
416 Fire on June 1, 2018
Location San Juan National Forest, Colorado, United States
Coordinates 37°27′40″N 107°48′29″W / 37.461°N 107.808°W / 37.461; -107.808Coordinates: 37°27′40″N 107°48′29″W / 37.461°N 107.808°W / 37.461; -107.808
Statistics[1][2] [3]
Cost $27,000,000
Date(s) June 1, 2018 (2018-06-01) –  ()
Burned area 55,000 acres (22,258 ha)
Cause Unknown
Buildings
destroyed		 0
Map
Location of fire in Colorado.

The 416 & Burro Fire Complex are active wildfires in the southwestern portion of Colorado in the United States[4]. The fires are predominately within San Juan National Forest, 13 miles north of Durango and 14 miles south of Rico. The 416 fire started on June 1, 2018 and the Burro Fire followed on June 8th. The causes are still under investigation[5][6]. As of July 2, 2018 the fires have burned a combined total of over 55,000 acres (22,258 ha) and have cost more than $27 million to contain[7][6][5]. It is one of the largest wildfires in Colorado's history and has had major impacts on tourism and commerce for communities in the southwest portion of the state[8][9].

Events

June

The 416 Fire started around 10:00 a.m. on June 1, 2018, approximately 10 miles north of Durango, Colorado and west of Highway 550. By the morning of June 2, the fire had expanded into the San Juan National Forest and had burned an estimated 1,100 acres (445 ha). The highway was closed between milemarkers 34 and 48 for public safety and to allow firefighters to keep the fire from crossing the highway. County Road 250 was also closed. Evacuation orders were put in place for residents of Baker's Bridge at County Road 250 north to Electra Lake Road, where 825 structures are threatened.[10]

By the evening of June 3, the fire had grown to 2,255 acres (913 ha) and was 10 percent contained. It expanded Hermosa Creek, prompting officials to issue pre-evacuation orders to the community of Hermosa.[11] The next day, the fire showed significant activity due to winds. Highway 550 was again closed due to heavy smoke and fire teams focused on building defensible spaces around buildings and using controlled burns as needed.[12] The fire is at 10 percent containment.[13]

By June 5, new pre-evacuation orders were put in place for areas east of Hermosa due to southerly winds keeping the flames on the ridgeline on the slopes near the community. Temperatures were hotter than average and Forest Service personnel cited increased drought conditions as creating additional challenges.[14] Crews continued to fight the fire using aerial support.[15]

The Burrow Fire began on the opposite side of the Hermosa Creek Wilderness Area on June 8th[5][16]. As of July 2, 2018 the fire had spread to within 10 miles of the 416 fire and burned over 4,000 acres (1,619 ha)[5].

By June 29, the 416 fire had expanded to 41,617 acres (16,842 ha) and was 37 percent contained. The fire continued moving north, with crews clearing and chipping brush piles along the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Burnouts continued in the southwest in No Buck Creek.[17]

July

By July 1, the fire had grown to 49,301 acres (19,951 ha) and was 37 percent contained. Temperatures enabled crews to focus on containment in the south and southwestern side of the fire, while northwest winds caused smokey conditions for communities along Highway 550, including Durango and Hermosa Creek. Concerns about the fire impacting the Purgatory Resort were reduced, however hotshot crews remained in the area to protect the resort, if needed.[2]

Impact

Over 1300 homes and businesses were forced to evacuate due to the fire[18]. As of July 2, no businesses or homes have been destroyed by the fire.

The fire forced the closure of Purgatory Ski Resort, Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and the San Juan National Forest, as well as sporadic closures of Highway 550[19][20][21][22]. The town of Silverton had to cancel their famed 4th of July Fireworks, which brings thousands of visitors to the tiny mountain town. Railroad tourism regained operation in July with diesel locomotives and steam engine services to Silverton resume on July 17th[23]. Purgatory resumed its summer operations on July 2nd[24]

The July 4th cancelations and highway, rail, and trail closures have devastated the tourism industry of Silverton, and has had a substantial impact on the economies of Durango and elsewhere in southwest Colorado[8][9][25].

Closures

Areas of San Juan National Forest are closed, specifically:[17]

  • All trails that tie into the Colorado Trail off of Highway 550 from the Molas Trailhead south to the Junction Creek Trailhead

References

  1. ↑ "416 Fire". InciWeb. US Forest Service. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 "July 1, 2018- 416 Fire Update - InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "burro Fire". Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  4. ↑ helpdesk@dms.nwcg.gov, InciWeb developed and maintained by USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management,. "InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  5. 1 2 3 4 helpdesk@dms.nwcg.gov, InciWeb developed and maintained by USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management,. "Burro Fire Information — InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  6. 1 2 helpdesk@dms.nwcg.gov, InciWeb developed and maintained by USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management,. "416 Fire Information — InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  7. ↑ "416 Fire grows to more than 51,000 acres, firefighting cost rises to $27 million". FOX31 Denver. 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  8. 1 2 "State documenting financial losses from 416 Fire". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  9. 1 2 "Silverton cancels famed Fourth of July fireworks show". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  10. ↑ "416 Fire Update for June 2, 2018 — InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  11. ↑ "416 Fire Update June 3, 2018 pm — InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "416 Fire Update for June 4, 2018 pm — InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  13. ↑ Miller, Blair (5 June 2018). "416 Fire burning in southwest Colorado remains 10% contained at 2,400 acres". 7NEWS. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  14. ↑ "416 Fire Evening Update June 5, 2018 — InciWeb the Incident Information System". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  15. ↑ "June 27, 2018- Evening 416 Fire Update — InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  16. ↑ helpdesk@dms.nwcg.gov, InciWeb developed and maintained by USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management,. "June 27, 2018- Evening 416 Fire Update — InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  17. 1 2 "June 29, 2018- 416 Fire Morning Update — InciWeb the Incident Information System". inciweb.nwcg.gov. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  18. ↑ "1,300 homes evacuated as 416 fire north of Durango grows". The Denver Post. 2018-06-09. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  19. ↑ "CO Blaze Shuts Down San Juan National Forest". Firehouse. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  20. ↑ "Current Fire Information and Updates | Official Tourism Site of Durango, Colorado". www.durango.org. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  21. ↑ "More Narrow Gauge Railroad rides canceled as fire burns near Durango". The Know. 2018-06-05. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  22. ↑ "US 550 Closed North of Durango Due to "The 416 Fire" —". www.codot.gov. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  23. ↑ "Current Fire Information and Updates | Official Tourism Site of Durango, Colorado". www.durango.org. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  24. ↑ (tns), The Daily Times, Farmington, N.M. "416 Fire: Purgatory resort to reopen, Durango area likely safe". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  25. ↑ "416 Fire affecting Durango, Silverton economy". KOB 4. Retrieved 2018-07-02.

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