Colorado Wildfire Update: June 14

Black Forest Fire

  • Fire Start Date: June 11, 2013
  • Location/County: El Paso County
  • Cause: Under Investigation
  • Acres: 16,300
  • Containment: 5%
  • Evacuations: ~40,000 people and ~20,000 homes
  • Fatalities/Injuries to Date: 2 civilian deaths
  • Structures Lost: 389 destroyed (preliminary assessment)
  • Resources: Type I Incident Management Team, 800 personnel
  • Significant Events: Disaster Assistance Center open, Community meeting scheduled for June 15.
  • Source(s): www.inciweb.org, SEOC Status Report, www.twitter.com/EPCSheriff
  • Hashtag:  #BlackForestFire

Royal Gorge Fire

  • Fire Start Date: June 11, 2013
  • Location/County: Fremont County
  • Cause: Under Investigation
  • Acres: 3,216
  • Containment: 40%
  • Evacuations: none at this time
  • Fatalities/Injuries to Date: None reported
  • Structures Lost:
  • Significant Events:
  • Resources: Type II Incident Management Team, 274 personnel
  • Source(s): www.inciweb.org, SEOC Status Report
  • Hashtag:  #RoyalGorgeFire

Big Meadows Fire

  • Fire Start Date: June 10, 2013
  • Location/County: Grand County
  • Cause: Lightning
  • Acres: 353
  • Containment: 30%
  • Evacuations: None reported
  • Injuries to Date: None reported
  • Structures Lost/Damaged: None reported
  • Resources: Rocky Mountain Type II Incident Management Team, 266 personnel
  • Source(s): www.inciweb.org, SEOC Status Report
  • Hashtag:  #BigMeadowsFire

Today’s Fire Outlook


The fire situation rating for the Rocky Mountain Area remains at Preparedness Level 3.  The Nation remains at a Preparedness Level 2.  This rating indicates highly complex large fire activity is occurring, with multiple large fires in the zone. Fire severity is extreme as reported in multiple areas, and fires are escaping initial attack, as evident by the number of large fires. Multiple regional dispatch centers are experiencing an incident requiring type-1 or type-2 teams, and a majority of zone resources are committed.

Monthly Seasonal Outlook from the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center:  http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdfThere is a statewide ban on open burning and the private use of fireworks due to high fire danger.


There are no active watches, warnings or advisories for Colorado.  For more information go to http://www.weather.gov/alerts-beta/co.php?x=1. A map can be viewed at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/firewx/main.php.