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Polis Declares Disaster Emergency As Ferris Fire Tops 57,000 Acres
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CBS Colorado, Approved, State

Polis Declares Disaster Emergency As Ferris Fire Tops 57,000 Acres

By: Christa Swanson | CBS Colorado The growing Ferris Fire in southwest Colorado has consumed over 50,000 acres, prompting Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to declare a disaster emergency. On Wednesday, the governor's office announced the verbal declaration, which activates the State Emergency Operations Plan and increases the resources available for containment efforts. Ferris Fire moves up steep terrain in the Glade Creek area. Ferris Fire Incident Command READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT CBS COLORADO
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Aspen Acres Fire Tops 91,000 Acres as New Evacuations Hit Fremont County
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The Colorado Sun, Approved, State

Aspen Acres Fire Tops 91,000 Acres as New Evacuations Hit Fremont County

By: Dana Coffield | The Colorado Sun The Willow fire near Leadville grew by 900 acres overnight spurring mandatory evacuation of areas southwest of the city. Ouray 100 race canceled because of Gold Mountain fire. The Aspen Acres fire southwest of Pueblo made another surge Sunday, bringing the total acres burned to 91,523, federal fire officials said, and making it the seventh largest wildfire on record in Colorado. Authorities said Thursday the fire was human-caused but released no further details about its origin as it raced northeast from near the Aspen Acres campground across Pueblo County, where it forced the evacuation of the towns of Beulah, Colorado City, Rye, San Isabel and Wetmore. Around 8:15 p.m. Sunday, the Fremont County sheriff issued a mandator...
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Grand Junction Pays Tribute to Three Firefighters Lost in Snyder Fire
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

Grand Junction Pays Tribute to Three Firefighters Lost in Snyder Fire

By Robert Garrison | Denver7 GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The three firefighters killed in the Snyder Fire west of Grand Junction last month were remembered and honored during a memorial service Sunday. Federal firefighters Emily Barker, 38, Nick Hutcherson, 27, and Sydney Watson, 27, were killed June 27 fighting the more than 30,000-acre wildfire on the Colorado-Utah state line. Authorities said they were trying to shield themselves from flames by deploying tent-like shelters when they were overcome. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT DENVER7
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Evacuations Lifted After Wildfire Contained West Of Boulder
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CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

Evacuations Lifted After Wildfire Contained West Of Boulder

By Austen Erblat, Sarah Horbacewicz | CBS Colorado Evacuations have been lifted for an area west of Boulder due to a wildfire on Monday evening, Boulder County officials said. County officials said the evacuation orders were in place in the area of 519 Wild Turkey Trail in Fourmile Canyon. As of 10:30 p.m. the fire was 100% contained with about 3 acres burned. Boulder County Evacuees are being told to avoid Wild Turkey Trail and take Evening Star Road for evacuations. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT CBS COLORADO
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Yuma County Fires Race Across Plains Burning Tens Of Thousands Of Acres During 80 MPH Gusts
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

Yuma County Fires Race Across Plains Burning Tens Of Thousands Of Acres During 80 MPH Gusts

By Stephanie Butzer, Robert Garrison | Denver7 Officials told us they believe these fires were caused by downed power lines. Denver7 is working to learn more and will have a crew reporting through the morning. YUMA COUNTY, Colo. — Emergency personnel have contained all but one wildfire in Yuma County overnight after multiple fires broke out Wednesday evening as strong wind gusts pummeled the state. The only fire that was currently active as of 2:30 a.m. Thursday was in a rural area of the county south of Eckley near the Heartstrong neighborhood. It had burned an estimated 40,000 acres as of then, according to Jake Rockwell, emergency manager for Yuma County Office of Emergency Management. By that point, the other fires had been contained. As of 7:40 a.m., the Color...
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Colorado Officials Arrest Five for Wildfire in Rio Blanco County
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Local, Approved, kdvr.com

Colorado Officials Arrest Five for Wildfire in Rio Blanco County

By Heather Willard | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — Five people have been arrested in connection to a 35-acre wildfire that started on Aug. 15 in Rio Blanco County, according to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office. The fire sparked in the Yellow Jacket area, which is northeast of Meeker in Rio Blanco County. Deputies were able to begin an investigation and preserve evidence while firefighters and air support were actively fighting the blaze, which indicated the fire was “likely human-caused,” according to a sheriff’s office release. Those charged, and the charges they are facing, were announced as: Zachary Williams, 29 A state felony charge of firing woods or prairie Several federal charges, including entering a forest closure, possession of fireworks and removing wood with...
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Colorado Fires Show Mixed Progress Elk Fire Contained Lee Fire Still Raging
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State, Approved, Post Independent

Colorado Fires Show Mixed Progress Elk Fire Contained Lee Fire Still Raging

By Taylor Cramer | The Post Independent The Elk Fire is now fully contained as crews continue to make progress on the much larger Lee Fire, which has burned 137,465 acres and is 42% contained as of Sunday. The Lee Fire is now just shy of the Hayman Fire, which burned 137,760 acres in 2002 near Colorado Spring and ranks as the fourth-largest wildfire in Colorado history. Both the Lee and Elk fires were started by lightning on Aug. 2. Combined, 1,155 personnel remain assigned to the fires, supported by six aircraft, 25 hand crews, 78 engines and 46 pieces of heavy equipment. The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 is nearing the end of its 14-day assignment. The Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 1 has been mobilized to assume command Monday. The inco...
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30,000 Acres and Counting: Western Colorado Faces Worst Fire Season Yet
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State, Approved, denvergazette.com

30,000 Acres and Counting: Western Colorado Faces Worst Fire Season Yet

Grace Brajkovich | The Denver Gazette Several wildfires continue to eat their way through western Colorado's mountainous terrain, with one growing more than 6,000 acres overnight and another crossing over from Utah, according to emergency officials. The four major wildfires on the western half of the state, including the one coming from Utah, have burned over 35,000 acres of land, according to Inciweb, a government wildfire tracker.  The scorching weather and "extreme" drought conditions still fan the blazes' flames as firefighters try to navigate steep, jagged terrain and fight back the four wildfires that prompted Gov. Jared Polis to issue a disaster declaration Sunday.  Here's a roundup from fire officials Wednesday. Turner Gulch and Wright Draw firesM...
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Can firefighters use ocean water to douse wildfires?
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Approved, Fox21, National

Can firefighters use ocean water to douse wildfires?

By Michael Bartiromo, Cameron Kiszla | Fox 21 News Footage of a firefighting plane picking up water from the Pacific Ocean to beat back the wildfires currently burning in Los Angeles has only added fuel to a debate taking place among onlookers on social media: Should we be using seawater to douse the flames? “I’m really confused. Can’t they use ocean water to put out the fires?” one X user from Canada asked Thursday. “How is the ground so dry with that much water[?]” As demonstrated in the aforementioned footage — which has been published by Nexstar’s KTLA, among other outlets — yes, firefighters can use seawater to put out fires. But it’s not exactly as simple, safe, or environmentally friendly, experts have said. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 21 NEWS...
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As California reels, study shows Marshall fire made air in nearby homes hazardous for months
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Approved, Local, The Colorado Sun

As California reels, study shows Marshall fire made air in nearby homes hazardous for months

By Michael Booth | The Colorado Sun Direct neighbors of houses burned in the Marshall fire suffered measurable increases in volatile organic compounds from toxic smoke in their homes, and hundreds more residents reported headaches and other health problems, according to companion University of Colorado studies published in late December.  Smoke-weary Los Angeles County residents may want to study up as they sit in limbo during evacuations from the Pacific Palisades/Malibu and Pasadena wildfires sweeping the area this week. The twin CU studies show toxins from burned homes drift into still-standing neighboring homes and create tangible health symptoms for months after fires are put out.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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