Four Mile Canyon Fire Scanner Updates

OEM Update:

9:52 a.m. - Sept. 11, 2010
Updated Fourmile fire donation needs:

Boulder County Donation Collection Center
3111 28th St.
Boulder, CO
Hours 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.


Items currently needed:
For those affected by the fire
Hygiene items (new) such as: toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, deodorant, body soap
Diapers - all sizes
NEW underwear (mens, women's and children's)
Tums / Rolaids
Socks
For Firefighters
Hygiene items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, deodorant, body soap
Lip balm
Lotion
Sunscreen
Eye covers
Bandanas
Socks
Items NOT Needed
Food donations
Used clothes
Water
Please call 211 for the most up-to-date information on donation needs

9:41 a.m. - Sept. 11, 2010
Fourmile fire area utility services update:
Utility Services are currently available to the following areas:

Glendale Gulch - phone currently available
Arroyo Chico - phone currently available
Poorman Road - electric and phone available
Gold Hill - phone currently available
Kelly Road - phone currently available
South Sugarloaf - phone currently available
South Old Town Site - phone currently available

Crews are currently working to restore electric power today to the following areas:

Lee Hill Road
Boulder Heights Subdivision
Carriage Hills Subdivision

9:35 a.m. - Sept. 11, 2010
Boulder County Public Health has created a web page offering Fourmile Canyon fire health information at:



http://www.bouldercounty.org/health/fireresources.htm

8:58 a.m. - Sept. 11, 2010
Assessment teams working to update list of addresses impacted by the Fourmile fire
Boulder County building officials and property assessment teams will be going through the Fourmile fire burn area this weekend, Sept. 11 and 12, to obtain more accurate and complete information for an updated list of addresses impacted by the fire. As soon as that assessment is complete, the new list will be posted on this website.

8:50 a.m. - Sept. 11, 2010
Forest Service closes area due to Fourmile Canyon Fire



The Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests has temporarily closed all entry on National Forest System lands north from Boulder Canyon (Colorado Highway 119) to South Saint Vrain Canyon (Colorado Highway 7) and east of the Peak to Peak Highway (Colorado Highway 72). Private landowners, members of the media and private contractors (such as those working on private property or for utility maintenance) are exempt from the restriction.
Boulder District Ranger Christine Walsh said, “This closure is necessary to protect public safety in close proximity to the Four Mile Canyon Fire. The fire is behaving very erratically at times; as winds and weather conditions shift the fire could move in a new direction at a moment’s notice.”

Fire danger is currently rated “very high” in Boulder County. Although fire restrictions are not in effect, visitors to other areas of the national forest are asked to be extremely careful with campfires to avoid further wildfire ignitions. If you use a fire, never leave campfires unattended, even for a few minutes. Pour on plenty of water and stir it into the coals until all materials are cool to the touch with your bare hand.

8:40 a.m. - Sept. 11, 2010
Xcel Energy hotline for residents returning to evacuated areas:



Xcel Energy has established a hotline to help keep residents informed (800-545-0677) of the status of power in their area. Customers may call this number to hear a recorded message with current information on the restoration progress.

11 a.m. - Sept. 11, 2010 - Fourmile fire update
Fourmile Canyon Fire Update
Boulder County, Colo. - The Fourmile Canyon wildfire is approximately 6,427 acres in size. According to federal officials, the fire is 56 percent contained.

Infrared flights from last night continue to show several areas of isolated heat, but no large pockets of intense heat were indicated. Last night, firefighters who were tasked with maintaining the perimeter reported very few hot spots. There are still pockets of unburned vegetation within the burn area.

The priority for today will be to focus on areas of heat identified, especially near structures and unburned areas. Line construction will also continue on the north and south flanks of the fire.

Teams are continuing to work to catalog burned structures and to investigate the fire's cause and origin. At present the list of destroyed structures remains at 172, 169 of which are homes. An additional 25 structures have been damaged. Boulder County building officials and property assessment teams will be going through the burn area this weekend, Sept. 11 and 12, to obtain more accurate and complete information for an updated list of addresses impacted by the fire. As soon as that assessment is complete, the new list will be posted on this website.

There continue to be no deaths reported as a result of the fire; there have been seven minor injuries reported.

More than 1,096 firefighters, from at least 35 local, regional and national agencies are working to contain the active fire. Currently five helicopters, 111 fire engines, 38 water tenders, and 1 dozer are currently being used on the fire.

An updated map < www.bouldercounty.org/bocc/FourMileFireWebPerimeter.pdf > of the burn area and evacuation perimeter is posted online. Residents are also encouraged to visit inciweb.org < inciweb.org/incident/2119/ > , a national informational website dedicated to wildland fires, which also has detailed Fourmile Fire maps.

A list of informational resources < www.bouldercounty.org/newsroom/articlefi...sourcesList.ver3.pdf > for displaced individuals is posted online.

An emergency shelter continues to operate at the Boulder YMCA located at 2850 Mapleton Ave. Food, water and insurance resources are available courtesy of the American Red Cross. More information is available on the Red Cross Mile High Chapter website < www.coloradoredcross.org/index.asp?IDCapitulo=Q4Q26NY21N > .

Boulder County animal control officers continue to conducting animal evacuations as site access becomes available. Animal evacuation information can be obtained by calling 720-564-2942.

An incident call center has been established to assist city and county residents affected by the wildfire. Residents are asked to contact the call center at 303-413-7730 instead of calling 911 unless there is an emergency to report.

12 p.m. - Sept. 11 - Volunteer and Donation Information

Please no prepared or perishable food items. Boulder is a very generous community, and many people want to donate food for the firefighters. While it is appreciated, prepared or perishable food cannot be accepted.



At this time, volunteers are not needed and we are encouraging volunteers to still call 211 or 866-760-6489. Your information will be put into our database and we will contact you only if your skills are needed.



Questions about donations can still be directed to 211 or 866-760-6489, and physical donations are being handled at the official Boulder county donation drop-off site located at 3111 28th Street.



The site is only able to accept the following items:

* Gently used children's clothes
* Size large adult clothing
* Unused personal hygiene items
* Adult and baby diapers School supplies



Please do not drop off donations at local fire stations.



Boulder County established an Assistance Center for people displaced or affected by the wildfire. The center is located at Boulder County's Sundquist Building, 3482 N. Broadway (Broadway and Iris) in Boulder.



A call center is also operational there and can be contacted at 303-441-3560.



The Assistance Center is offering the following services to victims of the fire.

* Food and basic needs assistance
* Longer-term housing options for people how have lost their homes Insurance claim advice
* Mental health
* Medical case management
* Senior services for those aged 60 and over
* Coordination with local nonprofit organizations to provide clothing and other basic needs.


11:50 a.m. - Sept. 11 - Cyclists asked to refrain from using roads near fire

Fire officials are requesting that cyclists voluntarily discontinue use of the roads within and around the Fourmile Canyon fire area for the next week.



Fire fighters and incident managers will continue to require safe and secure access to these areas, with frequent travel of large vehicles and heavy traffic. Having to drive around recreationalists and cyclists can impede access to the still burning areas and areas where damage assessment activities are taking place.



Specifically, cyclists should refrain from trying to access roads in and around the following areas:



• Lee Hill Road
• Lefthand Canyon Road
• Old Stage Road
• Sunshine Canyon Road
• Fourmile Canyon Road
• Sugarloaf Road


All Boulder County Parks and Open Space properties are open for recreational use except for: Bald Mountain Scenic Area, Anne U. White Trail, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Wallstreet Assay Office, and all other properties owned or managed by Boulder County Parks and Open Space within the fire perimeter.

Rocky Mountain Area Fire Potential Briefing - http://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/predictive/ou ... efing.html

2:40 p.m. - Sept. 11, 2010 - County warns residents to be on alert for scammers
Boulder County is warning residents affected by the Fourmile Canyon wildfire to be on the alert for scam artists seeking to take advantage of its residents during this emergency. Scam artists may attempt to gain personal information or to provide help obtaining state or federal aid for a fee. Residents should remember not to reveal personal information when they are unsure of the person or the organization. They should also never pay a fee for obtaining help. If you suspect someone of committing fraudulent activities, you should contact the Boulder District Attorney's Consumer Protection Division office through their website: www.bouldercounty.org/da



For information about avoiding problems in the rebuilding or repair process, consumers can go online to the D.A.'s website at www.bouldercounty.org/da to read "Before You Build" which offers a guide to researching potential builders – including considerations such as making sure they are licensed with Boulder County, how to avoid liens, how to find out if a contractor is registered with the Secretary of State, and if the contractor has references that can be checked and contracts that provide start and finish dates with no major up front payments.

3:45 p.m. - Sept. 11, 2010 - Message about residents returning to burn area to assess damage

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is working on a plan to allow residents to register for a pass to go back into the burn area when specific areas are open for residents to visit their properties. At this time, no decisions have been made about where and when residents should go to register for this purpose, but we will post that information here and send a release to the media immediately when that information is available.



The primary concern at this time is the safety and security of residents going into an area that has experienced devastating impacts from the fire. While the active fire conditions have improved, there remain many obstacles and dangers within the burned area. These include: downed power lines and poles, hot fire spots, infrastructure damage to roads, lack of working utilities, and exposed mine shafts. We also need to make sure we keep open access for emergency personnel and firefighters still working in the area.

Please continue to check back to this site after the 7 p.m. briefing from the Incident Command Post for any updated information.

Xcel Energy has established a hotline to help keep residents informed (800-545-0677) of the status of power in their area. Customers may call this number to hear a recorded message with current information on the restoration progress.



At this time, the following areas have had power restored:



* Portions of Boulder Heights
* All of Pinebrook Hills
* All of Carriage Hills
* All of Lee Hill
* Portions of Logan Hills

7:15 p.m. - Sept. 11 - Residents can register Sunday to receive passes to return to burn area

On Sunday, residents of the areas inside the fire perimeter can sign up for passes that will provide access into their neighborhoods when conditions allow for reentry.

Because of active fires still in the area and other hazards that threaten the health and safety of residents, only certain areas of the burn area will be opened at certain times. There has been no decision about when areas may begin to open.

Residents may go the Boulder County Justice Center at 1777 Sixth St. (Sixth and Canyon) beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12. They will be asked to attend a short informational meeting where they will be briefed on safety issues and concerns in the area and given a chance to ask questions.

The Justice Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Residents will need to:

* Show identification
* Complete a form for reentry into the burn area (available at the Justice Center and here online)

Residents must secure an access pass before they are allowed back into their neighborhoods.

As areas open for residents to return to their homes, the Mental Health Center of Boulder County will be providing counselors at community centers within the affected communities throughout the burn area as evacuees return. Counselors will be available in the following locations:

* Gold Hill Community Center (above fire barn)
* Sunshine Fire Station 1 (on County Road 83)
* Fourmile Canyon (Salina Little Church of the Pines)

Dumpsters will be set up in community areas to collect spoiled food and other trash from homes.

Additional information will be released on the Office of Emergency Management website and distributed through the media for dissemination.

Residents are asked to stay tuned to TV, radio and other news websites to find out when certain areas will be re-opened for residents to return to their properties.

Fourmile Canyon Fire Update
For Immediate Release Sept. 11, 2010 8:00 p.m.

Fire Information: 720-564-2185 or 720-564-2186 (8 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
Website Info: [url=http://www.inciweb.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.inciweb.org[/url]
Email: fourmile
Photos: picasaweb.google.com/fourmilecanyonfire


General Information/Announcements:
As the risk of fire spread decreases, the Incident Management Team is coordinating efforts to mitigate safety issues within the fire area. Much work will need to be completed before it is safe for residents to return. Trees that have been weakened by fire and could potentially fall on roads will need to be removed. Utility poles and lines will need to be replaced and utilities restored. Roads will be evaluated for damage and any safety issues that are found will need to be corrected. Some of this work has already begun as qualified fire personnel are escorting utility companies into the fire area to survey the damage. Reports from the today’s survey are that there are a large number of transformers down that will need to be removed due to the hazards they cause.

Closures/Advisories/Evacuations:
Evacuations: Several evacuations and road closures are still in effect. For a complete list of the areas affected visit www. BoulderOEM.com.

Closures: The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks department (OSMP) has closed several trails, trailheads, and areas in western Boulder due to fire operations. For a complete list of closures visit [url=http://www.osmp.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.osmp.org[/url] The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks department (OSMP)

There is also a forest closure in effect for the fire area. For a map and closure information visit:
Closure Order: http://go.usa.gov/xC4
Closure Map: http://go.usa.gov/xC2

Today’s Activity:
Containment is now at 73 percent due to the great efforts firefighters made on line construction. Although officials are feeling more confident that the fire will not experience any more perimeter growth, they are still cautious about the unburned pockets of vegetation within the perimeter. Today firefighters, aided by water from helicopters, worked on several areas where fire still existed near these pockets.

Public Safety Message:
Residents and the general public are reminded to take responsibility for their safety by obeying fire area closures, evacuation orders, and roadblocks.

Quick Fire Facts:
Date started: 09/06/2010
Location: 5 miles W of downtown Boulder, CO
Percent Contained: 73%
Number of Personnel: 1069, 23 crews
Equipment: 100 engines, 36 water tenders, 1 dozer
Cause: Human (under investigation)
Size: 6,427 acres
Estimated Containment Date: September 13, 2010
Aircraft: helicopters 3 large, 2 medium, 1 small
Retardant: (156,012 gallons) cumulative
Injuries to Date: 7 (all minor)Cost to Date: $ 6,775,645

OEM Update:

8:22 a.m. - Sept. 12, 2010 - Sheriff’s Office to open most of Mountain Pines at noon
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has announced it will open parts of the Mountain Pines subdivision at noon today, Sunday, Sept. 12. The re-entry authorization includes Left Fork Road and Mountain King Road, but not Arkansas Mountain Road.


All returning residents will need passes to provide access into their neighborhood. These passes will be available starting at 10 a.m. today at the Boulder County Justice Center at 1777 Sixth St. (Sixth and Canyon). Passes also will be distributed throughout the week during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.



Victims’ advocates will be in the neighborhood to assist residents as they return.



Residents should be advised that there is no power or phone service at this time. Xcel crews will be entering the area today and working on power. Emergency officials will have one satellite phone with them should emergency phone service become necessary.



Sheriff’s officials are asking residents to wait to bring in private contractors.



Media will be given access to the neighborhood later this afternoon. Residents are free to make their own decisions about whether to talk to reporters.



Additional information will be released as other areas and neighborhoods are deemed safe for re-entry.



Please read this important information about returning to your residence .

8:20 a.m. - Sept. 12, 2010 - Health fact sheets available
Boulder County Public Health has prepared some important health information about spoiled food, asbestos, air quality, hazardous materials and other topics. All of these fact sheets can be found at http://www.bouldercounty.org/health/fireresources.htm

9:39 p.m. - Sept. 11, 2010 - Important information about returning to your residence
Because of active fires still in the area and other hazards that threaten the health and safety of residents, only certain areas of the burn area will be opened at certain times. Please read this important information about returning to your residence .

8:54 p.m. - Sept. 11, 2010 - Burn area access for media
The next media briefing about the Fourmile Canyon wildfire will be at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12 at the Boulder Reservoir.



Members of the media who wish to obtain passes to enter the burn areas as they are reopened will need to attend the 8 a.m. briefing and show credentials.