Vegetation Fire/Lefthand Canyon

Crews are working a vegetation fire in the vicinity of 3700 Lefthand Canyon Drive, Boulder.

Mutual aid has been requested.

Additional mutual aid has been requested from Evergreen Fire Rescue.

3/11 1:45 p.m. Escorts for evacuated residents to retrieve pets from their homes are being provided
Evacuated households who have pets that they want to retrieve from their homes can go up to their residence with an animal escort. The Boulder County Sheriff's Office Animal Control is coordinating escorts from the incident command center at U.S. 36 and Lefthand Canyon Dr (Greenbriar Inn parking lot). Please do not go to this area unless you have a specific personal need to be there. This is also where we are staging firefighting equipment and personnel, so we need to keep the area open for emergency access at all times.



3/11 1:25 p.m. - Air resources en route
An air tanker has been ordered out of New Mexico and is on its way with an expected arrival of 3:30 p.m. Firefighters will assess wind conditions before determining if air support is possible.

3/11 1:05 p.m. Call center established for affected residents 303-413-7730
A call center for residents is available at 303-413-7730. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless it is an emergency. Anyone who lives in or around the area affected by the road closures and evacuations, or who is impacted by the events related to the fire, should contact the call center for assistance.
03/11 1 p.m. - More evacuation information
Homes on the north side of Lefthand Canyon Drive have been ordered evacuated, more specifically, homes from the 3000 block of Lefthand Canyon Drive to Foothills Highway.

Evacuees are encouraged to check in at an evacuation center at the YMCA at 28th and Mapleton in Boulder.



Notification messages are also being sent from south of Lefthand Canyon Drive to Middle Fork Road. Residents are there are encouraged to remain alert and be prepared to evacuate, if emergency officials determine that is necessary for public safety reasons.

3/11 12:50 p.m. - media staging area is being established on Plateau Rd. off U.S. 36 across from the Greenbriar Inn.
A media staging area is being established on Plateau Rd. off U.S. 36 across from the Greenbriar Inn. Media should park their trucks in a single file along Plateau Road and be careful not to block any roads or access for emergency response equipment.
3/11 12:40 p.m. - Evacuation Center at the YMCA; small animal shelter info
The American Red Cross is opening up an evacuation center at the YMCA, 2850 Mapleton Ave. in Boulder, starting at 1 p.m. Evacuees are encouraged to go there and check in, even if they have other places to stay.



The Humane Society of Boulder Valley and the Longmont Humane Society are accepting small animals for care and shelter as a result of the Lefthand Canyon fire.

3/11 12:30 p.m. - Road closures
The sheriff's office has ordered road closures due to the Lefthand Canyon fire. The following points are closed at this time:



Access points to Lefthand Canyon, including, but not limited to, all routes off Highway 36 and the Peak-to-Peak Highway
All access points through the James Canyone and Lee Hill subdivisions.

3/11 12:20 p.m. - Fire is estimated at 20 acres moving east from 3 MM on Lefthand Canyon Dr.
Fire is estimated at 20 acres moving east from 3 MM on Lefthand Canyon Dr. towards entrance to Boulder County Heil Ranch Open Space off Lefthand Canyon Dr.



Lefthand Canyon Dr. is closed form U.S. 36 to James Canyon.
Mandatory evacuations have been called for approximately 223 households in the Lefthand Canyon Dr. area, include Lake of the Pines subdivision to the north.
Large animals are being evacuated to Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont
A call center for residents is being established. The phone number will be 303-413-7730 when it is activated.


3/11 11:30 Wildland fire on Lefthand Canyon Dr.
Heavy smoke reported over foothills area near Lefthand Canyon Drive is a result of wildland fire burning on USFS land near 3700 block. At this time, no structures are in immediate danger, but residents in the area are being informed about the fire. Additional information will be posted here as it becomes availalble.
3/11 10:50 a.m. Firefighters reporting to another small fire in Boulder County (Lefthand Canyon)
There is another small fire in Boulder County, burning in Lefthand Canyon near 3.7 mile marker on U.S. Forest Service land. It is moving slowing and not growing beyond several feet at this time. Lefthand Fire Protection District has reported to the fire. The U.S. Forest Service will provide updates.

3/11 10:45 Wind conditions improving, but still a factor in fighting small wildland fire west of Lyons
Current Button Rock weather: 50 degrees, humidity 26 percent, wind from the northwest at 8 mph. Ridgetop winds northwest at 15-30 mph.

Wind conditions expected to improve a little over the next couple of hours. Winds continue to be from a northwesterly direction and may begin to mix down into the valley. Still potential for gusts to 50 mph on the ridges.



Information on the cause of the fire is available on the City of Longmont's website.

03/11 08:45 a.m. - Fire size-up
The current size of the fire burning northwest of Botton Rock Reservoir is estimated at less than 2 acres. The fire is burning in an area that includes land owned by the City of Longmont and the U.S. Forest Service. 50 firefighters from eight agencies are working on the fire. High winds have made it difficult to contain, although the fire has low potential to spread because it is burning within an area in the form of a bowl surrounded by rock outcroppings
03/11 08:25 a.m. Longmont Dam Fire status update
50 firefighters are on-scene from the following agencies:

Boulder County Sheriff's Office
City of Boulder Fire Dept.
Colorado State Forest Service
Lyons Fire Protection District
City of Longmont Fire Dept.
Pinewood Springs Fire Dept.
Lefthand Fire Protection District
Wildand Task Force
Hygiene Fire Dept.
U.S. Forest Service (a representative)
Pridemark Ambulance
Wildland Task Force


Fire is still estimated at 3-5 acres. Up to 10 residences are in the vicinity, none of which are threatened at this time.



A media briefing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. at the staging area established along the west side of U.S. 36 in Lyons across from the Black Bear Inn. Parking lot is coned off for media.



Commander Rick Brough (pronounced "Bruff"), Boulder County Sheriff's Office, and Commander Jeff Satur, City of Longmont Police Department, will be available for interviews.

03/11 07:25 a.m. - Media briefing scheduled for 9 a.m.
A media briefing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. at the staging area established along the west side of U.S. 36 in Lyons across from the Black Bear Inn. Parking lot is coned off for media.



Commander Rick Brough (pronounced "Bruff") with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office will be available for interviews.

03/11 6:50 a.m. - Update on "Longmont Dam Road" fire
Fire is located near Longmont Dam Road, north of Button Rock Reservoir. No containment at this time. No structures are immediately threatened. No mandatory evacuations have been issued. 15-20 firefighters are on scene, another 20 are en route.



Fire is in area surrounded by Boulder County Open Space, U.S. Forest Service land, land owned by City of Longmont, and private property.



Agencies responding:

Boulder County Sheriff's Office

Lyons Fire Protection District

City of Longmont Fire Dept.

Pinewood Springs Fire Dept.

Lefthand Fire Protection District

Wildand Task Force

Hygiene Fire Dept.

U.S. Forest Service (a representative)

Pridemark Ambulance

03/11 6:50 a.m. - Media staging area
A media staging area has been established along the west side of U.S. 36 in Lyons across from the Black Bear Inn. Parking lot is coned off for media.
03/11 5:50 a.m. - Wildland fire near Lyons
Firefighters are working a wildland fire near the Button Rock Reservoir outside Lyons. The fire was reported at about 4:45 a.m. and at the time, appeared to be about three acres. There is a road closure at North St. Vrain Drive and Longmont Dam Road. No evacuations have been ordered at this time. Crews will be evaluating whether there are any structures threatened. The Emergency Operations Center has been activated and Public Information Officers are enroute to assess the situation and begin providing the community with updates as soon as possible.

Source

Incident Overview
Firefighters are responding to a fire in the Lefthand Canyon area on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest. They are battling dry conditions and gusty winds. The fire is located eight miles north-northwest of Boulder.

Boulder Office of Emergency Management has issued an evacuation order. Please check their website (link to the right) for the latest evacuation information.



Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Undetermined
Date of Origin Friday March 11th, 2011 approx. 10:35 AM
Location Started in Chaos Canyon
Incident Commander Dave Buchanan, Usfs

Current Situation
Size 200 acres
Fuels Involved Burning in ponderosa pine with grassy understory


Outlook
Remarks A heavy air tanker has been ordered.

Source

INCIDENT UPDATED 11 MIN. AGO
Incident Overview
Firefighters continue to make progress on the Lefthand Canyon OHV Area Fire located on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest. The fire is located eight miles north-northwest of Boulder. Incident Commander Dave Buchanan reported that firefighters are gaining ground and are focusing on public and firefighter safety as well as structure protection. Tonight firefighter will be conducting burnout operations to secure the fire with black line along Lefthand Drive from Lefthand OHV Area to Buckingham Park.

Boulder Office of Emergency Management has issued an evacuation order.

Source

INCIDENT UPDATED 3 HRS. AGO
Incident Overview
Last night firefighters made good progress on the Lefthand Canyon OHV Area Fire located on the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest. The fire is located eight miles north-northwest of Boulder. Incident Commander Dave Buchanan reported that burn out operations went well and increased containment of the fire and their constant and considerable effort to secure Lefthand Drive. Firefighters continue to focus on public and firefighter safety as well as structure protection. Today firefighters will continue to build and secure fireline. They will be assisted by a helicopter that will be dropping water on the fire. Weather conditions are expected to be more favorable today with increased humidity, lower winds and temperatures and a 30 percent chance of rain or snow tonight.

For the latest information on road closures and evacuations visit the Boulder Office of Emergency Management website.



Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Human-caused
Date of Origin Friday March 11th, 2011 approx. 10:35 AM
Location Started in Chaos Canyon
Incident Commander Dave Buchanan, Usfs

Current Situation
Total Personnel 150
Size 400 acres
Percent Contained 60%
Fuels Involved Burning in ponderosa pine with grassy understory


Outlook
Planned Actions Firefighters will continue to build and secure fireline today. Four 20-person handcrews will be working the fire today assisted by a helicopter dropping water. One more helicopter is on order. An additional 20-person crew is expected to arrive tonight.

Remarks Twelve homes and six out buildings are threatened. Containment of the fire is mostly on the west, south and eastside of the fire. Fire managers will be improving the map of the fire today.

Source

Fire is 80% contained.