County issues emergency declaration as wildfire continues spreading
JEFFERSON COUNTY – County commissioners have issued an emergency declaration and all unincorporated areas of the county are under burning restrictions as firefighters continue trying to hold back a wind-driven fire west of Colorado Highway 6 that had grown to nearly two square miles Tuesday.
The Indian Creek Fire had scorched more than 1,160 acres as the day began and was only 20- to 25-percent contained by Tuesday afternoon as firefighters continued the battle in difficult terrain west of highway 93. The fire, which grew from 700 acres early Monday, forced authorities to evacuate about 100 homes and businesses in the area as flames spread on winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour overnight.
The forecast called for gusts as high as 70 miles per hour Tuesday afternoon, according to fire-weather forecasts.
The evacuations remained in effect late Tuesday and Golden Gate Canyon Road was closed.
The National Interagency Fire Center pegged the cost of fighting the Indian Gulch fire at $240,000 as the more than 160 firefighters resumed their battle early Tuesday. By evening, that figure had reached $680,000, according to a Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
The fire, which was torching its way through the Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir in the foothills between Highway 6 and Golden Gate Canyon Road, was fueled mainly by timber litter and extremely dry grass, according to the NIF.
More than 7,000 gallons of fire retardant had been dropped on the fire, but high winds grounded the four aircraft, two single engine air tankers and a pair of helicopters Tuesday afternoon.
The Indian Creek Fire and two smaller ones that broke out Monday prompted the three-member Board of County Commissioners to issue a “Disaster/Emergency Declaration” late Monday. The declaration enables the county to call in state and federal fire-fighting resources and to seek reimbursement for part of the cost of fighting the fire.
“The fires are in areas where it is difficult for emergency services to respond and weather is under Red Flag conditions, which will increase the risk of additional fires. The need for outside resources to include air and ground resources will exceed Jefferson County’s capabilities,” according to a county statement released after commissioners issued the emergency declaration
The smaller fires, one near Evergreen and another near Conifer, were quickly contained.
The Indian Creek Fire is not expected to be 100 percent contained until this weekend at the earliest, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
The three fires also prompted Jeffco Sheriff Ted Mink to issue a temporary fire ban prohibiting any “open flame” including trash and debris burning, charcoal fires, most outdoor smoking and other activities on both public and private land in unincorporated Jefferson County. See the entire fire ban at: http://www.co.jefferson.co.us/jeffco/news_uploads/hot_topics/sheriff_fire_ban.pdf.
