Editor's Note: This post collects all of our updates on Colorado's four major wildfires for Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. You can find the latest updates here. Our original post continues below.
Wildlife officials say a young bear rescued after suffering burns in a wildfire has been released. The hurt bear was reported roaming along the perimeter of the East Canyon fire, which is west of Durango on the line between La Plata and Montezuma counties June 16. Officials used a tranquilizer to immobilize the roughly 2-year-old male weighing about 50 pounds before transporting the animal to the rehabilitation unit.
The Durango Herald reports that within days, the bear was back on its feet. The bear’s paws healed over time and he gained more than 60 pounds — enough strength to proficiently climb trees in his pen.
Here are the current statuses of Colorado’s four major wildfires (click on the fire name to jump to the updates):
- Grizzly Creek Fire: 32,302 acres, 61 percent containment (Aug 27, 9:08 a.m.)
- Pine Gulch Fire: 135,958 acres, 53 percent containment (Aug 27, 9:07 a.m.)
- Cameron Peak Fire: 22,845 acres, no containment (Aug 27, 10:11 a.m.)
- Williams Fork Fire: 11,992 acres, 5 percent containment (Aug 27, 10:23 a.m.)
- Other fires
Grizzly Creek
4:10 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for the Grizzly Fire Creek burn area until 6 this evening.
That includes much of Glenwood Canyon along Interstate 70 in Garfield County and reaches east into parts of Eagle County.
The service says the area could get up to half an inch of rain, which threatens to send water and debris on to the highway and other areas below.
7:11 a.m.: Officials managing the fire say even though I-70 has reopened, people should not plan to recreate around Glenwood Canyon for a while. Access to trails and the Colorado River is still closed.
Glenwood Springs resident Kyle Jones drove through the canyon Tuesday. There was still a lot of smoke, but Jones said he was very happy to be able to see many cottonwoods along the riverbanks plus large swaths of pine trees, shrub oak and juniper that survived the fire.
"A lot of the places that I look forward when I'm going through the canyon are still there, so I would just encourage people to go through and see it for themselves and take note of the things that we're still lucky to have, because there's a lot there that's worth enjoying," he said.
One popular spot is Hanging Lake. Officials say even though flames got close most of the area seems to have avoided damage.
— Stina Sieg
Pine Gulch
The Colorado Department of Transprotation reopened CO 139 over Douglas Pass on Tuesday night. Like I-70 through the Grizzly Creek fire, travelers should be prepared for likely closures due to mudslides or firefighting activity. Speed limits are also lower and no stopping is allowed on the road.
Cameron Peak
New update pending.
Williams Fork
Yesterday, crews burned vegetation between the control lines and the perimeter of the Williams Fork fire in an attempt to reduce any potential fuels.
A helicopter flew over the ignition area and launched small plastic spheres that ignites shortly after hitting the ground. Operations chief Mike Johnson said at a fire update today the ignition was a success.
“There's a little bit of heat where we did that burnout yesterday, but that's looking really good and we have folks out there securing that line," Johnson said.
Other Fires
Willis Creek
This fire is in Pueblo County, about 1.5 miles to the northeast of Lake Isabel.
Thorpe
This fire is located in Park County, just two miles southwest of the unincorporated town of Tarryall.
Lewstone
The Lewstone fire started Aug. 22 about 15 miles northwest of Fort Collins.
