Vegetation Fire/Golden

550+ acres per http://www.9news.com/news/local/article ... -550-acres

Per Jeffco website:

Indian Gulch Fire - Update 3:30 p.m.

As of March 21 at 3:30 p.m: An Evacuation Notice for 100 homes in the Golden Gate Canyon Area has been issued.

The notice was put out through the emergency alert notification system at about 2:45 p.m. The evacuation point is The Methodist Church located at 1500 Ford Street in Golden. Other residents should be prepared to evacuate on short notice, if the need arises. If you are directed to evacuate, you will receive another reverse 911 call.

Reminder: People with disabilities who may need additional assistance should call the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at 303-271-0211 to make arrangements. Residents with large animals are encouraged to move them now. Large animals can be taken to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds; small animals can be dropped off at Foothills Animal Shelter.

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As of March 21 at 3:20 p.m: 100 homes in the Golden Gate Canyon area have been issued an evacuation notice due to the Indian Gulch Fire. The evacuation Point is the Methodist Church located at 1500 Ford Street in Golden. The notice went out 2:45 p.m. via reverse 911.

Please see the Jefferson County Sheriff's Emergency blog for the latest updates and information.

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As of March 21 at 12:50 p.m: A pre-evacuation notice has just been issued to 705 homes in the Golden Gate Canyon area. The notice was put out through the emergency alert notificaiton system at about 12:45 p.m.

Residents should be prepared to evacuate on short notice, if the need arises. If you are directed to evacuate, you will receive another emergency alert notification call.

People with disabilities who may need additional assistance should call the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at 303-271-0211 to make arrangements.

Residents with large animals are encouraged to move them now. Large animals can be taken to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Small animals can be dropped off at Foothills Animal Shelter.

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As of March 21 at 12:20 p.m: Wind gusts of 35 mph have been a challenge on the north flank of the fire, toward Golden Gate Canyon Road, forcing crews to pull back into safety zones. The crews are re-engaging as conditions permit.

Operations on the east end of the fire, toward the Mountain Ridge Subdivision, are going well. The fire is about 15 percent contained, along Hwy 6. Fire activity has been low along that south flank.

The Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) that was supposed to fly today is continuing to have communications problems. A second SEAT has been ordered and is enroute from Idaho. It is anticipated both SEATs will be available by mid-afternoon. A Type 2 helicopter has been flying throughout the day. A second Type 2 helicopter is being ordered. Air support will be up as long as it is safe and effective.

Relative humidity has dropped 17 percent in the past hour. Wind and weather conditions continue to be a concern. Animal evacuation teams are on standby, should they be needed.

Please see the Jefferson County Sheriff's Emergency blog for the latest updates and information.

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As of March 21 at 8:30 a.m: approximately 700 acres burned. There are approximately 90 firefighters working the fire, who have about a 15% containment on the southeast edge of the fire, which is above Highway 6. The firefighting efforts will be focused on the north and east sides of the fire.

A single engine air tanker (SEAT) has been ordered, and a helicopter will be continuing water drops.

There are currently no evacuations. If evacuations are needed, affected residents will receive a emergency alert notification call.

There is a red flag warning in effect with winds gusting to 35 mph. The temperatures are expected to be 70 - 74 degrees, with relative humidity at 3% to 7%.

Highway 6 reopened at 8:45 a.m. today.

Please see the Jefferson County Sheriff's Emergency blog for the latest updates and information.

Source

Indian Gulch and Evergreen Fire info from NWS - www.crh.noaa.gov/bou/?n=indian_gulch

Crews are reporting new fire starts on the north side of a ridge next to Hwy 6.

Per Jeffco website:

Indian Gulch Fire - Update 7:00 p.m.

As of March 21 at 7:00 p.m.:

850 acres have burned
15% containment
120 firefighters working the perimeter of the fire
The Jefferson County Incident Management Team has called for a Type I Incident Managment Team to assist with managing the fire. They are expected to arrive on the evening of Tuesday, March 22.

The Jefferson County Sheriff has issued a fire ban with specific activities strictly prohibited

Source .

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Help Fight Indian Gulch Fire in Jefferson County
Release Date: March 21, 2011
Release Number: R8-11-011

DENVER, Colo. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Indian Gulch Fire in Jefferson County.

FEMA approved the state's request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 6:30 p.m. MDT. At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 265 homes in and around the Golden Gate Canyon subdivision near the city of Golden. The fire was also threatening other buildings, businesses, power utilities, state park facilities, and is impacting the local watershed.

"While we don’t send engines or firefighters to battle these blazes, FEMA does help reimburse states for their firefighting costs," said FEMA Region VIII Regional Administrator Robin Finegan. "Whenever a wildfire threatens large numbers of homes and looks like it may become a major disaster, we can help cover costs so the state can do what it needs to do to fight the fire."

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state's eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.

Source

Per Jeffco website:

Indian Gulch Fire - Update 6:45 a.m.

As of March 22 at 6:45 a.m.: Nearly 1,200 acres have burned and the fire is about 15% contained. 200 firefighters will be working the fire today, with hand crews arriving from out of state.

Fire officials expect two single-engine air tankers and two helicopters to be available to fight the fire this morning. High winds are expected today, with gusts as high as 75 MPH. A Type 1 incident management team will arrive this evening to take over fire management.

Reidents are reminded that animals may be evacuated to one of two facilities: pets may be taken to Foothills Animal Shelter; large animals may be taken to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. There is no charge and volunteers are available to care for the animals.


Please see the Jefferson County Sheriff's Emergency blog for the latest updates and information.

Source

Chopper drops will begin shortly.

Per Jeffco website:

Indian Gulch Fire - Update 7:30 a.m.

As of March 22 at 7:30 a.m.: About 1,162 acres burned and 15% containment with 200 firefighters working the fire. The fire moved west overnight. On-site mitigation efforts by firefighters helped to protect two homes.

Of the 100 emergency alert notification calls issuing evacuation orders yesterday, 17 were to homes while with the other calls were local businesses. There are two helicopters making water drops. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph are expected today which could result in a small window of opportunity for air support.

Source

Per Jeffco website:

Indian Gulch Fire - Update 3:00 p.m.

As of March 22, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.: The Indian Gulch Fire is approximately 20-25% contained. The fire is creeping and smoldering in Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir, mostly on the north, northwestern flank of the fire; the fire remains active on all of its perimeters.

7,000 gallons of fire retardant has been dropped, mostly on the south, southwest perimeters of the fire. All aircraft are currently grounded due to increased winds over the fire ground.

Evacuations are still in place and Golden Gate Canyon Road remains closed for safety during fire operations. The current cost of the fire to date is $680,000.00

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As of March 22 at 1:30 p.m.:
The Indian Gulch Fire has been creeping and smoldering throughout the day. It has not grown significantly in size. However, afternoon winds are expected to pick up -- which may increase fire activity, and may force air support to stay grounded.

Evacuations are still in place, and Golden Gate Canyon Road remains closed from Catamount Drive on the east to Crawford Gulch Road on the west for safety during fire operations. Residents seeking access who live above Crawford Gulch are advised to use Highway 6 to Highway 119 to Douglas Mountain Road.

Please see the Jefferson County Sheriff's Emergency blog for the latest updates and information.

Source