Gov. Polis declares disaster emergency for wildfire burning in northwest Colorado
The Elk Fire began around 12:30 p.m. yesterday in Rio Blanco County and has burned around 600 acres to the southeast of Meeker. The Rio Blanco County Sheriff's Office said the wildfire is actively burning across land belonging to the Colorado Division of Wildland, the Bureau of Land Management and private owners, fueled by pinyon, juniper and oak brush in the area. They added that no structures are currently at risk.
Authorities said the smoke from the wildfire can be seen from Meeker, and the hot and dry conditions are contributing to active fire behavior. The sheriff's office requested that residents and travelers avoid the area while emergency personnel are working to contain the fire.
Due to the rugged terrain in the area, Hotshot crews are being dropped into the fire zone to assist ground crews with suppression efforts.
Today's declaration provides additional resources and state support to help in fire suppression efforts. A statement from the governor's office said:
"Fire conditions in northwest Colorado are at near record levels, and elevated fire weather and fire risk is forecast for the coming week. With the disaster declaration, the State Emergency Operations and Resource Mobilization Plans are activated and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) coordinates the state response through management of the State Emergency Operations Center and deployment of field operations staff to directly support county emergency managers with consequence management. The Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) is leading the incident management and suppression efforts in conjunction with the other CDPS Divisions."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dragon Bravo Fire Near Grand Canyon Grows into 'Megafire' and Even Creates Its Own Weather
The Dragon Bravo fire is now said to be one of the 10 largest wildfires in Arizona's historyNEED TO KNOW A wildfire burning near the Grand Canyon has grown into what experts call a "megafire" The Dragon Bravo fire began following a lightning strike near the North Rim on July 4, fire officials said The fire was burning across more than 116,000 acres of land and was only 12% contained as of Aug. 4A wildfire burning near the Grand Canyon has grown into what experts call a 'megafire,' and it has even developed its own weather. The Dragon Bravo fire has been burning for a month near the Grand Canyon's North Rim after it was sparked by lightning on July 4, according to a news release from the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team. As of Monday, Aug. 4, the blaze is burning across more than 116,00 acres of land and is only 12% contained, according to data shared via InciWeb. The wildfire has quickly morphed into what experts call a 'megafire,' which the U.S. Interagency Fire Center describes as 'a wildfire that burns more than 40,500 hectares (100,000 acres) of land.' The Dragon Bravo fire is now one of the 10 largest wildfires in Arizona's history, according to CBS affiliate KPHO-TV. The blaze has even sparked the formation of pyrocumulus clouds, which have been sitting over the blaze for at least seven straight days, the Associated Press and CBS News reported. Pyrocumulus clouds, otherwise known as flammagenitus or 'fire clouds,' develop due to 'convection initiated by heat from forest fires, wildfires or volcanic eruption activity,' according to the World Meteorological Organization. The Dragon Bravo fire has become intense enough to create its own weather, according to CNN and the AP. The pyrocumulus clouds associated with the blaze have made it more difficult for firefighters to battle the flames. 'If they get high enough, they can also create downdrafts, and that's something we really watch out for because that can quickly spread the fire and can be very dangerous for firefighters who are doing their work on the ground,' said fire information officer Lisa Jennings, per the AP. More than 1,100 fire personnel are working to extinguish the Dragon Bravo fire, according to the news release published on Saturday, Aug. 2, by the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Critical fire weather returned to the area over the weekend after a burst of humidity on Friday, Aug. 1, fire officials said. Before that, the area impacted by the Dragon Bravo fire saw eight straight days of historically dry conditions, according to the AP. Additionally, fire officials said that "no precipitation is expected until the middle of next week.' Read the original article on People
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Rescuers call off search for 11 people presumed dead in Pakistan floods
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Rescuers in northern Pakistan on Monday called off a two-week search for at least 11 people swept away by flash floods last month, saying they are now presumed dead, a government spokesperson said. The victims were among 18 people who went missing in July while traveling from the city of Chilas to Skardu when their vehicles were carried away by floods triggered by heavier-than-normal rainfall, said Faizullah Faraq, a spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government. He said rescuers found the bodies of seven people from the debris along a highway that was badly damaged by the landslide. The highway has been reopened for traffic after the repair work, he said. Pakistan recorded 36% more rainfall in July than the same period last year, according to Pakistan Meteorological Department. Since June 26, more than 300 people have died in rain-related incidents in Pakistan, according to the National Disaster Management Authority, which issued a new warning of flooding in various parts of the country. The unusually heavy rains have raised fears of a repeat of the catastrophic 2022 floods that submerged a third of Pakistan and killed nearly 1,750 people.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Terrifying mudflow engulfs Russian town following heavy rainfall
A catastrophic mudflow swept through the town of Tyrnyauz in Russia's Kabardino-Balkarian Republic on July 31. The disaster followed heavy rainfall in the region and came just hours after a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia's Far East. Dramatic footage shows the towering wall of mud surging into the streets, prompting the evacuation of approximately 370 residents.
