Firefighters continued to battle at least five wildfires west of Denver Friday afternoon. Colorado has seen average high temperatures in the low 90's this past week. The summer heat mixed with the dry climate creates a breading ground for wildfires in Colorado, fires which are often fueled by shifting, unpredictable winds and afternoon thunderstorms.
East Rim Fire
The East Rim fire in southwest Colorado has burned more than 689 acres since July 2, according to InciWeb, an incident information system used by eight federal agencies to monitor disasters.
The fire was started by an afternoon lightning storm in the western part of the San Juan National Forest. At least 75 firefighters are working to contain the fire which was at three percent containment Friday. The land is mostly owned by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
Gutzler Fire
The Gutzler fire has consumed more than 1,000 acres as of Friday afternoon. No structures have been threatened or destroyed. A nearby campground has been temporarily closed to allow firefighters full access to the area. The fire began July 2 around 1 p.m., according to InciWeb. It was at three percent containment Friday as more than 175 firefighters battle the blaze in White River National Forest, 20 miles north of Vail.
Drone owners in the area have been asked to not to fly their aircrafts following a Temporary Flight Restriction. The restriction on drones is to maintain a clear air space for helicopters fighting the fire.
Mill Creek Fire
The Mill Creek fire has spread to more than 482 acres after a tree fell on a bulldozer July 1, the Denver Post reported. InciWeb listed the cause of the incident as "human." At least three structures threatened, no structures have been destroyed, and there have been no injuries or fatalities. The fire is 40 percent contained, according to InciWeb. More than 135 firefighters are battling the fire, nearly 95 percent of which is on private land about 20 miles northwest of Steamboat Springs.
Peak 2 Fire
The Peak 2 fire, four miles northwest of Breckenridge, has evacuated more than 450 homes. Investigators have not released the cause of the fire, which began around 11 a.m. on Wednesday in White River National Forest, the Denver Post said. A mountain biker first reported the fire at noon on Wednesday after he saw smoke. The fire has burned more than 85 acres, and was only seven percent contained as of Thursday afternoon, according to InciWeb. No structures have been lost and there have been no injuries or casualties.
More than 130 firefighters have responded the incident, which has threatened hundreds of homes. Among the fire personnel are ten local fire agencies, two helicopters, and eight smoke jumpers, 9News reported.
Smoke jumpers are firefighters who parachute into remote areas.
Peekaboo Fire
The largest of the Colorado wildfires, the Peekaboo fire, has burned more than 8,000 acres in the northwest corner of Colorado. As of Friday evening, the fire was only five percent contained, according to InciWeb. The majority of the fire is on Bureau of Land Management property, north of Dinosaur National Monument. Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge, Dinosaur National Monument, and three ranches are threatened by the fire, KDVR reported. More than 97 firefighters are battling the blaze which began on June 27 by a lightning strike.