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Department of Homeland Security adds sniffing device to AI tools helping fight wildfires in Colorado
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Department of Homeland Security adds sniffing device to AI tools helping fight wildfires in Colorado

By Tracy Ross | The Colorado Sun New technology allowing firefighters to “smell” points of origin and locate hot spots or new fires even before smoke can be seen is among the next generation of safety measures the Department of Homeland Security says will help communities and first responders facing longer, more destructive fire seasons in Colorado.  Headlining an event this week at the Boulder County Regional Fire Training Center, the sensor can detect fire-born particulates, volatile organic compounds, chemicals and gases and then send the data to a cloud-based system that updates every 18 seconds and issues geographically targeted notifications to disaster management officials and first responders. Although the sweet spot for detection is a half-mile to a mile away, developer...
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Wildfire in northern Larimer County causing hundreds to evacuate was human-caused, officials say
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Approved, Local, The Colorado Sun

Wildfire in northern Larimer County causing hundreds to evacuate was human-caused, officials say

By Olivia Prentzel | The Colorado Sun A wildfire that forced hundreds to evacuate their homes Monday in northwestern Larimer County was human-caused and sparked on private property, officials said Monday evening. The Pearl fire was estimated at 138 acres with zero percent containment at about 9 p.m. Seventy-five people worked to control the fire and more were on the way, the sheriff’s office said in an update Monday evening. Larimer County officials began to receive calls about smoke just after 11 a.m. Monday and firefighters found a fire burning about 5 miles northwest of Red Feather Lakes. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Suspect arrested on suspected arson in 10,000-acre Alexander Mountain fire
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Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Suspect arrested on suspected arson in 10,000-acre Alexander Mountain fire

By Jennifer McRae | CBS Colorado A suspect has been arrested in connection with the Alexander Mountain Fire that burned almost 10,000 acres in Northern Colorado earlier this year. The wildfire ignited on July 29 and destroyed 28 homes and 21 other structures. Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen said the suspect has been identified as Jason Hobby, 49, a Loveland resident and former employee of Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch.  Hobby was an employee of the ranch until about three or four weeks ago when he was identified as a suspect in the fire.  SEE THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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Clear Creek Canyon wildfire grows to 200 acres overnight west of Golden, closes U.S. 6
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Approved, Local, The Colorado Sun

Clear Creek Canyon wildfire grows to 200 acres overnight west of Golden, closes U.S. 6

By The Colorado Sun The Goltra fire burning in Jefferson County west of Golden “grew significantly” overnight to more than 200 acres after starting Tuesday afternoon. Clear Creek Canyon remains closed.  The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday morning the Goltra fire slowed down Monday afternoon, but then grew overnight fueled by down-canyon winds, which continued to be an issue Wednesday. More support and resources have been ordered, and U.S. 6 remains closed west of Golden to Colorado 119. Tuesday evening, the sheriff’s office said the fire was about 10 acres and burning near tunnel 1 in Clear Creek Canyon. The cause of the fire has not been identified. No structures are in danger.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Forensic experts still working to identify human remains from Stone Canyon fire
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Approved, Local, The Colorado Sun

Forensic experts still working to identify human remains from Stone Canyon fire

By Olivia Prentzel | The Colorado Sun Forensic experts in Boulder County are still working to identify a person whose remains were found in the rubble of the Stone Canyon fire, but the condition of the remains is posing a challenge for investigators. The remains were discovered in the aftermath of the Stone Canyon fire, which ignited July 30 north of Lyons, before it burned more than 1,500 acres. Five homes were destroyed and one person was killed. The fire caused extreme changes in the skeletal remains, including dehydration, fragmentation, color alteration and loss of material, that make extracting DNA more complicated, the Boulder County coroner’s office said in a news release Wednesday.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Bucktail fire near Nucla grows to more than 2,000 acres
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Approved, Local, Telluride Daily Planet

Bucktail fire near Nucla grows to more than 2,000 acres

By Mia Rupani | Telluride Daily Planet Dozens of firefighters are aggressively attacking a wildfire that started in the West End of Montrose County on Thursday. The Bucktail fire is exhibiting “extreme fire behavior,” according to Glen Sachet, public information officer for the U.S. Forest Service. “Extreme fire behavior means that the trees are torching and spotting,” he said. “It is moving rapidly.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE TELLURIDE DAILY PLANET
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431-acre Quarry Fire in Jefferson County being investigated as arson as Chatfield Reservoir reopens
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Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

431-acre Quarry Fire in Jefferson County being investigated as arson as Chatfield Reservoir reopens

By Jennifer McRae | CBS Colorado The Quarry Fire burning in Jefferson County is being investigated as arson. The fire is 431 acres in size and was 4% contained as of Friday morning.  The fire started near the intersection of West Deer Creek Canyon Road and Grizzly Drive on Tuesday night. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the fire grew slightly overnight Thursday into Friday in an open meadow that needed to undergo fire mitigation.  Investigators are now conducting an arson investigation on the Quarry Fire.  READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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Montana-based ‘Super Scooper’ aircraft deployed to fight Colorado wildfires
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Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Montana-based ‘Super Scooper’ aircraft deployed to fight Colorado wildfires

By Gabby Easterwood | Fox 31 News Several wildfires are burning along Colorado’s Front Range, and they’re getting assists from all over the country — including the unique “Super Scooper” planes from Bridger Aerospace. These aircraft arrived in Colorado Thursday and were initially helping the fight against the Quarry Fire in Jefferson County but has since been deployed to the fires north in Boulder and Larimer counties. When FOX31 got to tour one of the planes and talk to a crew, it was stationed in Centennial. But when they’re not working they’re based out of Bozeman, Montana, where they can respond quickly to fires across the U.S. and Canada. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
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If Alexander Mountain fire continues, evacuated Northern Colorado farmers say their livelihood is in jeopardy
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Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

If Alexander Mountain fire continues, evacuated Northern Colorado farmers say their livelihood is in jeopardy

By Dillon Thomas | CBS Colorado A team of local farmers west of Loveland say the Alexander Mountain Fire could potentially ruin their source of income if it continues to grow to the east.  Those with the Eden Valley farm say they are under mandatory evacuation, and that has rid of their ability to work on their produce or harvest.  The farm is located only about a mile or two away from the fire, says Isaac Livingood, a manager of the team's farmers market outreach.  The group had just finished harvesting their crop for the week when the fire began. They gathered personal items quickly and loaded their refrigerated truck with the produce they had and headed east.  READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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What does the containment percentage mean for wildfires?
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Approved, kdvr.com, Local

What does the containment percentage mean for wildfires?

By Brooke Williams | Fox 31 News Several wildfires are burning thousands of acres in Colorado. And while some have not shown significant growth, they remain at low levels of containment after days of firefighting. As of Friday morning, the Alexander Mountain Fire that started Monday has burned over 9,000 acres and is 5% contained, up from 0% on Thursday. The deadly Stone Canyon Fire that started Tuesday afternoon is at 1,553 acres and 30% contained. The Quarry Fire, which started Tuesday and authorities are investigating as arson, has burned more than 400 acres. It was 0% contained until Friday morning when fire crews reported 4% containment. As of Friday afternoon, the fire is reportedly 10% contained. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
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