Four Mile Canyon Fire Scanner Updates

Now planning evacuations all along Lee Hill Dr then along Left Hand down to Hwy 36 and Old Stage Rd. Old Stage and Lee Hill are the priority at this time.

6:45 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: Parking for evacuees using the Coors Events Center is at POD-G (public parking), just east of 30th Street and Colorado Blvd. A shuttle will be provided to transport evacuees from the parking area to the Coors Events Center.

6:47 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: Evacuation area has been expanded from Sugar Loaf Road to the Peak to Peak Highway.

7:51 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010 - Boulder Valley Humane Society is no longer accepting animals. Longmont Humane Society still has space and will be open throughout the night.

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7:46 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010 - The Nederland Community Center evaculation center is closed. All evacuees who were at the shelter have been accomodated. Anyone trying to go to Boulder from Nederland should use Coal Creek, and not try to travel through Boulder Canyon.

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7:40 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010 - There has been some confusion about the call center number. The incident call center can be reached at 303-413-7737.

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7:40 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010 - North Boulder Recreation Center evacuation center is closing and evacuees are being directed to the CU Coors Events Center.

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7:25 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: The New Vista High School evacuation center is closed. Evacuees have been directed to the shelter at the CU Coors Events Center.

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7:20 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: The winds have died down, allowing aircraft to get up and running. There are currently three air tankers operating over the wildfire: one single-engine tanker with a 799-gallon capacity and two heavy tankers with a 2,300-gallon capacity each. In addition, two other planes are in the air, assisting them. The tankers are dropping retardant and then returning to Rocky Mountain Regional Airport to refill, with an estimated 20-minute turnaround time. They will operate until it is too dark to do so. In addition, four more heavy air tankers have been ordered from Boise, Idaho. They are expected to arrive this evening and stage at Rocky Mountain Regional Airport until tomorrow morning.

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7:15 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010: The campground at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont is open for recreational vehicles. There are approximately 25 sites open on a first-come, first-serve basis. Electrical and sewer hookup available.

8:10 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010 - The CU Coors Event Center is open as an overnight shelter. People should enter at the southwest arena entrance, taking Regent Drive to Kittredge Loop. It is recommended that drivers go to the southwest entrance to be directed by shelter staff. Drivers can drop off the rest of their party at this entrance, then proceed to POD-G (public parking), just east of 30th Street and Colorado Boulevard. A shuttle will be provided to transport evacuees from the parking area back to the Coors Events Center.

The shelter can only accommodate service animals. No pets are allowed, but the humane society in Longmont is accepting small pets. People should bring identification and medications and items to occupy small children. Food will be provided.

8:20 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010 - Press briefing at 8:30 at the Boulder County Justice Center, 6th & Canyon Boulevard.

10:33 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010 - Road updates:

Boulder Canyon is open
Lefthand Canyon is open to Jamestown
Lefthand Canyon is closed from Lee Hill to Lick Skillet
Fourmile Canyon and Sugarloaf roads are closed

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10 p.m. - Sept. 6, 2010 - Fire crews from approximately 30 local agencies continue to battle the Four Mile Canyon Fire that has burned 3,500 acres and multiple structures. Crews are engaged in “point protection” which includes protecting structures, clearing defensible space around threatened structures, and direct fire suppression.



Approximately 3,000 residents are in the evacuation areas. The Four Mile Canyon Fire is a wind driven fire burning in steep, rocky, and hard to access terrain west and north of the City of Boulder. Requests for state and federal assistance have been requested.



A total of 100 firefighters and 35 engines are currently working the Four Mile Canyon Fire with additional resources available and responding. Aviation resources were able to assist today after the winds calmed down. An estimated 40,000 gallons of retardant were utilized within the fire area today to assist in firefighting operations. Air operations stopped at nightfall and will resume first thing on Tuesday morning.



The current evacuation area includes:



the communities east of the Peak-to-Peak Highway
west of Highway 36
south of Lefthand Canyon Rd
north of Boulder Canyon
along Sugarloaf Rd
There are not any evacuations within the City of Boulder city limits.

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10 p.m. - There will be a press briefing at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 7, at the Boulder County Justice Center, 6th & Canyon.

Rocky Mountain Area GACC Type 2 IMT to assume command of the fire this morning, per GACC.

7:41 a.m. - Sept. 7, 2010 - Boulder County officials will be on hand to update the public and media on the status of the Fourmile Canyon Fire at a briefing scheduled for 9 a.m. Mountain time Tuesday at the Boulder County Justice Center located at Sixth Street and Canyon Boulevard in Boulder. So far, no injuries as a result of the fire have been reported.

Up-to-date information about the size of the fire, its movement overnight, personnel and equipment involved in fighting the fire, evacuation status and tactical plans for the day will be discussed at the briefing, among other information.

The Fourmile Canyon Fire is at least 3,500 acres in size and forced the mandatory evacuation of about 3,000 residents living in the steep, rugged and heavily forested foothills west of the City of Boulder. There have been no evacuations within the city limits of Boulder. The evacuation area includes communities east of the Peak-to-Peak Highway, south of Lefthand Canyon Drive and north of Boulder Canyon Drive (Colo. Highway 119). Twelve people spent Monday night in the Coors Events Center located on the University of Colorado, Boulder campus. All other emergency shelters were closed because evacuated residents had made arrangements to stay with friends or family in the area, according to Red Cross officials.

More than 100 firefighters manning 35 engines from 30 local agencies worked to contain the fast-moving, wind-blown fire on Monday. Three aircraft also joined the fight flying 18 sorties and dropping 40,000 gallons of fire retardant on the fire. Additional aircraft are expected to join the effort on Tuesday.

Boulder Canyon Drive reopened to traffic Monday evening, however, Fourmile Canyon Drive and Sugarloaf Road remain closed. Additionally, Lefthand Canyon Drive and James Canyon Drive are open from U.S. Highway 36 to Jamestown. Lefthand Canyon Drive is closed between Lee Hill Drive and Lick Skillet Road.

The Boulder Valley School District also announced that all mountain schools will be closed Tuesday.

Aerial attack on the fire cannot start until the smoke clears enough for them to be able to see.