Four Mile Canyon Fire Scanner Updates

OEM Update:

4:43 p.m. - Sept. 13 - Updated Fourmile Canyon wildfire map
Updated Fourmile Canyon wildfire map .

4:05 p.m. - Sept. 13 - Updated list of destroyed homes
The Boulder County Sheriff's Office along with building officials and property assessment teams continue to investigate the Fourmile Canyon wildfire burn area to obtain more accurate and complete information regarding addresses impacted by the fire. More information .

2:30 p.m. - Sept. 13 - City lifts most trail closures
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks department (OSMP) has been allowed to suspend most of the trail closures in western Boulder that were in effect as a result of the Fourmile Canyon wildfire. The closures were ordered last week by the agencies fighting the wildfire due to suppression operations, extreme fire conditions and expected high winds.



Wonderland Lake will remain closed because helicopters are continuing to use water for suppression efforts. The Wonderland Lake area will be closed until further notice, and citations are being issued for violations. OSMP and firefighters are appreciative of the public’s cooperation in this important matter.



All other trails have been re-opened.

1:50 p.m. - Sept. 13 - Xcel Energy information line
Xcel Energy’s ongoing recorded customer information hotline is 1-800-545-0677.

12:25 p.m. - Sept. 13, 2010 - Recovery efforts for those affected by Fourmile Canyon wildfire
Boulder County is providing multiple resources as areas affected by the Fourmile Canyon wildfire continue opening to residents. More information .

Fourmile Canyon Fire Update
For Immediate Release Sept. 13, 2010 9:30 a.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:

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Department reported that the first re-entry of residents went very well. They plan to allow a second set of homeowners into the fire area today. Residents are reminded that this will be a phased re-entry, where small areas will be re-opened at a time. Information on the re-entry process has been posted at [url=http://www.boulderOEM.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.boulderOEM.com[/url].



Closures/Advisories/Evacuations:

Evacuations: Evacuations and road closures are still in effect. For a complete list visit [url=http://www.boulderOEM.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.boulderOEM.com[/url].



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.www.osmp.orgwww.osmp.orgThe" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.osmp.org.www.osmp.orgwww.osmp.orgThe[/url] City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks department (OSMP), in City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks department (OSMP), City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks department (OSMP),



There is also a National 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:

Today firefighters will continue to work on interior hot spots and also hope to complete line construction on the north flank. Infrared is still picking up heat in draws near Fourmile Canyon Dr on the west side of the fire and scattered spots along Gold Run and the section of perimeter where crews are completing line construction. Firefighters will continue to focus on those areas and around pockets of unburned vegetation to ensure that the fire is contained. Utility companies will continue to repair lines in the fire area.

Note: As the fire reaches full containment, we will produce one update daily unless a change in fire activity warrants.



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. Residents, who are allowed back into the fire area, are reminded to remain vigilant of hazards that may exist. Poles and trees that have been damaged by fire can fall without warning. Green trees adjacent to burned areas may appear to be undamaged, but can fall if their roots have been weakened by fire. Where trees have completely burned, stump holes may continue to smolder for several days and can cause a walking hazard. Residual smoke and ash can present a health hazard especially to those with breathing difficulties. There are still areas within the fire that are smoldering and a change in weather conditions can cause the fire to flare up.



Quick Fire Facts:



Date started: 09/06/2010

Location: 5 miles W of downtown Boulder, CO

Percent Contained: 87%

Number of Personnel: 915, 20 crews

Equipment: 65 engines, 25 water tenders, 1 dozer

Cause: Human (under investigation)

Size: 6,250 acres

Estimated Containment Date: September 13, 2010

Aircraft: helicopters 3 large, 1 medium, 1 small

Retardant: (156,012 gallons) cumulative

Injuries to Date: 7 (all minor)

Cost to Date: $ 8,319,000

For Immediate Release

From Cathy Kissner, Donations Manager, Fourmile Fire

970-201-3799

9/13/10 1100



SUBJECT: Updated needs list, donation collection point, distribution center



Effective immediately, the official Donation Collection Center at 3111 28th St in Boulder, CO will be open from 10am to 7pm. The Distribution Center location will be announced later this week. The Donation Collection Center is for receiving donations ONLY.

Items needed: Water, Sports Drinks

Laundry Supplies, Cleaning Supplies

New underwear, socks, in all sizes, for all ages

Feminine hygiene items

NEW bedding and toiletries

Work Gloves, boots, dust masks

Shovels & Rakes

Sunscreen, Lip Balm

Gift cards for families from your favorite restaurants, stores, movies, etc.

Gently used furniture donations (NO used mattresses) are being accepted at the Donations Warehouse at the old Safeway in Louisville at 707 East S. Boulder Rd.

Items NOT needed: used adult clothing, perishable food

Incident Overview
A line of engines with the incident command post (ICP) in the background.

The Fourmile Canyon Fire was declared 100% contained at 6 pm on September 13, 2010. This means that there is high confidence that the fire will not spread beyond the constructed fire control lines. Some resources from this fire are being moved to assist with the Reservoir Road Fire located north of Boulder and west of Loveland, Colorado. There is continued coordination with utilities and public works to repair damage to infrastructure. The Boulder County Sheriff's Department continues to implement a phased re-entry into the area based on mitigation of fire related hazards. Residents in the southern and eastern portion of the fire are allowed to return to their homes via a permit system. The Sheriff's Office estimates that 75% of the evauated residents now have access to their homes. Information on the re-entry process is available at [url=http://www.boulderOEM.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]www.boulderOEM.com[/url].

Effective 2 pm today, the Arapahoe Roosevelt National Forest Supervisor modified the temporary area closure to include only Forest Service lands within the fire perimeter. All National Forest areas not within the fire perimeter are open.

Residents and the general public are reminded to take responsibility for their safety by obeying fire area closures, evaucation orders, and roadblocks. Residents who are allowed back into the fire area are reminded to remain vigilant of hazards that may exist. Poles and trees damaged by the fire can fall without warning. Green trees adjacent to the burned area can fall if their roots have burned and been weakened by the fire. Where trees are completely burned, stump holes may continue to smolder for several days and can be a walking hazard by creating unseen holes. Residual smoke and ash can present a health hazard especially to those with breathing difficulties. There are still areas within the fire perimeter that are smoldering. Changes in the weather conditions can cause the fire to flare up.

100% contained! Yay Firefighters!!! Way to go!!!

For Immediate Release

From Cathy Kissner, Donations Manager, Fourmile Canyon Fire

9/14/2010 3pm



SUBJECT: Distribution Center Opens

The Official Distribution Center for the Fourmile Canyon Fire will be open at 1pm Wednesday, Sept. 15 until 7pm. Hours will be 10am to 7pm from Thursday Sept. 16 until further notice.

The Distribution Center is located at 5395 Pearl Parkway, next to Sunbelt Rentals. Entrance has a green sign “City of Boulder Mulch Yard” . Look for signs leading you into the Distribution Center.



The Donation Collection Center at 3111 28th St in Boulder, CO (across from the Puddle car wash and next to Time Warp comic & game store between Glenwood Dr and Valmont Rd) will continue to be open from 10am to 7pm until further notice. The Donation Collection Center is for receiving donations ONLY.

Items needed: Water, Sports Drinks, Laundry Supplies, and Cleaning Supplies including household paper products.

New underwear, socks, in all sizes, for all ages

Feminine hygiene items

NEW Sheets, towels

Work Gloves, boots, dust masks

Shovels & Rakes

Sunscreen, Lip Balm

Gift cards for families from your favorite restaurants, stores, movies, etc.

Gently used furniture may be donated at the Donations Warehouse at the old Safeway in Louisville at 707 East S. Boulder Rd. NOT accepting used mattresses.

Items NOT needed: used bedding, used adult clothing, perishable food

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS!

Fourmile Canyon Fire Update
For Immediate Release Sept. 15, 2010 9:00 a.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:

The Great Basin Incident Management Team expects that the Fourmile Canyon Fire will be fully controlled at the end of shift on 09/17/2010. This means that control lines around the fire, associated spot fires, and unburned interior islands have been completed; all hot spots that are immediate threats to the control line have been cooled down and extinguished; and any unburned fuels adjacent to the control lines have been burned out. With these completed actions, fire lines are reasonably expected to hold under foreseeable weather conditions.



The Boulder County Sheriff’s Department continues to open areas to evacuated residents. Information on the re-entry process is posted at [url=http://www.boulderOEM.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.boulderOEM.com[/url].



Utility companies will continue to repair power and gas lines and equipment until all services are restored within the fire perimeter.



Closures/Advisories/Evacuations:

The Arapahoe Roosevelt National Forest Supervisor has modified the temporary area closure to include only Forest Service lands within the fire perimeter. All National Forest areas not within the fire perimeter are open.



Today’s Activity:

Today firefighters will seek out and extinguish remaining hot spots within the fire perimeter; remove hazardous trees along roads and infrastructure; and return hand and dozer lines to a more natural condition.



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. Residents who are allowed back into the fire area are reminded to remain vigilant of hazards that may exist. Poles and trees damaged by the fire can fall without warning. Green trees adjacent to the burned area can fall if their roots have burned and been weakened by the fire. Where trees are completely burned, stump holes may continue to smolder for several days and can be a walking hazard by creating unseen holes.



Residual smoke and ash can present a health hazard especially to those with breathing difficulties. There are still areas within the fire perimeter that are smoldering. Changes in the weather conditions can cause the fire to flare up.



Quick Fire Facts:



Date started: 09/06/2010

Location: 5 miles W of downtown Boulder, CO

Percent Contained: 100%

Number of Personnel: 6 crews

Equipment: 17 engines, 2 watertenders

Cause: Human

Size: 6,181 acres

Estimated Control Date: 09/17/2010

Aircraft: 2 helicopters - 1 large, 1 small

Retardant: (148,3492 gallons) 66 total drops

Injuries to Date: 7 (all minor)

Cost to Date: $ 9,439,583

Fourmile Canyon Fire Update
For Immediate Release Sept. 16, 2010 8:00 a.m.


Fire Information: 720-564-2185 or 720-564-2186

(last day for staffing of these numbers is today from 8 a.m. to 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:

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Department has re-opened all areas to evacuated residents. Residents are reminded to use caution because there is still heavy traffic as firefighters and utility companies complete work within the fire. Today from 8:00 am until 9:30 am, a helicopter will be used to sling power poles into the power line corridor between Goldhill and Sugarloaf. Residents are advised to stay out of the path of this mission to avoid possible injury. The Great Basin Incident Management Team is preparing to transition management of the Fourmile Canyon fire back to the local agencies. This transition will occur on Friday, September 17, 2010.



Closures/Advisories/Evacuations:

The Arapahoe Roosevelt National Forest Supervisor has modified the temporary area closure to include only Forest Service lands within the fire perimeter. All National Forest areas not within the fire perimeter are open.



Today’s Activity:

Today firefighters will continue to seek out and extinguish remaining hot spots within the fire perimeter; remove hazardous trees along roads and infrastructure; and return hand and dozer lines to a more natural condition. Utility companies will continue to repair power and gas lines and equipment until all services are restored.



NOTE: This will be the last update from the Fourmile Canyon Fire unless additional information needs to be released by the local agencies that will be managing the incident. Post-fire victim assistance is available by phone at: 303-413-7730.



Public Safety Message:

Residents are reminded to remain vigilant of hazards that may exist within the fire area. Poles and trees damaged by the fire can fall without warning. Green trees adjacent to the burned area can fall if their roots have burned and been weakened by the fire. Where trees are completely burned, stump holes may continue to smolder for several days and can be a walking hazard by creating unseen holes.



Residual smoke and ash can present a health hazard especially to those with breathing difficulties. There are still areas within the fire perimeter that are smoldering, and residents can expect to see smoke as these areas flare up.



Quick Fire Facts:



Date started: 09/06/2010

Location: 5 miles W of downtown Boulder, CO

Percent Contained: 100%

Number of Personnel: 6 crews

Equipment: 16 engines, 2 watertenders

Cause: Human

Size: 6,181 acres

Estimated Control Date: 09/17/2010

Aircraft: helicopters - 1 small

Retardant: (148,3492 gallons) 66 total drops

Injuries to Date: 7 (all minor)

Cost to Date: $ 9,955,251

VHF Radios Key to Interoperability in Boulder Fire (9/14/10)
By Michelle Zilis
A Boulder County (Colo.) Sheriff’s Office official said its analog conventional VHF radio system allowed responders from local, state and federal agencies to interoperate without problems during the destructive Fourmile Canyon Fire last week.

The fire spread across 6,427 acres and destroyed 169 structures before it was 100 percent contained Monday evening. More than 900 firefighters from at least 35 local, regional and national agencies worked to contain the fire that began Sept. 6, according to the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management website.

Operating on the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office analog conventional VHF radio system, first responders were able to successfully communicate with one another. “We were very pleased with the performance of our VHF radio system,” said Division Chief James Smith, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. “It worked as expected and as it has worked for us in other major events.”

The county is an associate member/user of the statewide 800 MHz digital trunked public-safety radio system, the Consolidated Communications Network of Colorado (CCNC). However, the statewide network was used only on an interoperable basis. “We’ve found that the 700/800 MHz digital trunked radio system provided insufficient coverage in the area of the fire,” Smith said.

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