27 replies to this topic

[Aaron]

As expected, smoke has been visible from the Cow Creek Fire this Labor Day weekend. There continues to be high winds, strong wind gusts and low relative humidity. The roughly 2 to 5 acre fire is located in the remote western flank of the Cow Creek Fire at the bottom of the West Creek drainage in an area of heavy fuels. This location places tundra to the north and west of the fire, buffered by the previously burned area to the east.

Park personnel are in the area and will continue to monitor fire behavior and weather conditions. A helicopter from Yellowstone National Park arrived on Saturday to support operations with the Cow Creek Fire. The weather forecast continues to be for high winds through the day. With these winds more smoke is expected. Public and firefighter safety is always the top priority.

In early July, firefighters achieved containment of the northeast, east, and southern portions of the Cow Creek Fire in the remote West Creek area in Rocky Mountain National Park. The immediate threat to the area on the park's eastern boundary was mitigated; however, there was potential for the fire to spread to the west. It was expected that the fire would likely burn through the remainder of the fire season with the potential of smoke being visible until a significant weather event, such as snow this fall, puts the fire out.

On July 4, the three trails that were closed due to fire operations reopened. However, off trail travel on national park lands south of the North Fork of the Big Thompson River, west of the North Boundary Trail, north of Cow Creek, and east of Mummy Mountain and Mount Dunraven continue to be prohibited due to the active fire in the area.

Fire is a natural part of the ecosystem in the park. Fires have not burned in this rugged, remote area of the park for hundreds of years. "Many plants and animals are dependent on fire for their survival. Periodic fire can improve reproduction of plants and improve wildlife habitat. As we learn more about the historic role of wildland fire on public lands, we are also mindful of our duty in the protection of the public and communities," said Vaughn Baker, park superintendent. "Although this fire is miles away from any homes, it serves as a good reminder to all of us who live nearby, to take the necessary precautions to protect our homes." More information on preparing for a wildfire can be found at www.firewise.org

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There are two fires in discussion here within this topic - The Cow Creek Fire (which is what this topic was updating), and the fire near Boulder (mentioned below in a reply). THE COW CREEK FIRE IS NOT THE HUGE, HOUSE DESTROYING FIRE BEING REFERRED TO.
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[DrCloud]

What?

Are you sure this isn't smoke from that rather large wildfire west of Boulder? HPH

[Aaron]

This info I got is about the cow creek fire passed on to me from NPS/ROMO. I've heard there's significant smoke out there and I'm not there so it could very well be the fire near Boulder that the ginormous smoke is coming from.

--Aaron

[dragon]

We are here in Estes Park, and you can see smoke from the Cow Creek fire, but the smoke from the fire west of Boulder pretty unbelievable.

[Allie]

I have been following the stories of the fire in Boulder, and it looks really bad.

[Bill 007]

The Weather Channel showed a shot of the Boulder fires smoke caught on radar. That's thick smoke!

Bill
(I guess pine beetles are toast in that region.)

[mike offerman]

Driving up I25 this afternoon, I could see a small amount of smoke from the cow creek fire. The four mile canyon fire was huge, looking more like a thunder storm. Very impressive!

[goatboy]

i was watching the weather channel to this am and it showed quite a few houses tottaly destroyed from this fire, terrible news

[Aaron]

For anyone reading this topic with confusion....

There are two fires in discussion here - The Cow Creek Fire (which is what this topic was updating), and the fire near Boulder. THE COW CREEK FIRE IS NOT THE HUGE, HOUSE DESTROYING FIRE BEING REFERRED TO.

--Aaron

[smudge]

So the Cow Creek Fire is burning homes? And where is four mile canyon? is that near Alberta Falls??

[hahn23]

smudge, on 07 September 2010 - 12:53 PM, said:

So the Cow Creek Fire is burning homes? And where is four mile canyon? is that near Alberta Falls??

FourMile Canyon is in the foothills a few miles NW from Boulder. The area of concern is between Boulder and Nederland and points North and West of the out-of-control blaze. Expensive homes down that way. Actually, expensive homes in every direction from the fire, so much at risk regardless of wind direction.

My link


From Estes Park, we can see the smoke plume over Twin Sisters and in that general SE quadrant of our view. The active fire is about 20 miles SE from EP.
Multiple homes burned in Boulder fire; thousands evacuated from Fourmile Canyon


Not to be confused with the Cow Creek Fire, which still smolders in the NE section of the park. That fire has flared up in the last few days. The Cow Creek fire is much more remote and uninhabited than the Fourmile Canyon area. I have seen the plume of smoke from Cow Creek, too.

It's all a bit ominous and foreboding.

Edited by hahn23, 07 September 2010 - 01:11 PM.

[dianeh85]

hahn23, on 07 September 2010 - 01:11 PM, said:

It's all a bit ominous and foreboding.

We sure could use a good downpour, we haven't gotten that for a week or so here on the Front Range

[Aaron]

smudge, on 07 September 2010 - 12:53 PM, said:

So the Cow Creek Fire is burning homes? And where is four mile canyon? is that near Alberta Falls??

--Aaron

[hahn23]

Oh, no! In the past 15 minutes, the wind has picked up out of the SE. This is blowing the smoke from the FourMile Canyon fire right at us. No clouds, but it's gotten considerably darker. Visibility down to 100 yards. It smells like I'm standing in a campfire on the downwind side. Burns my eyes. This is not good.

[Jeannette]

I was just looking at the Estes Park webcams, and they all look very grey. Is that the smoke or rainy weather? The EstesParkWeather.net says its dry right now.