Latest news with #QuarryFire
CBS News
14-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Colorado park damaged by Quarry Fire set for partial reopening May 15
The Deer Creek Canyon Park area has had wildfires before, but none that worried community members quite like the 2024 Quarry Fire. A fast moving blaze, it nearly jumped the crest of the hill on Grizzly Drive, where neighborhoods sit, before low winds and fire crews were able to contain the blaze. Nearly 10 months after the fire damaged roughly 35% of the park, Jefferson County Open Space is set to reopen part of it May 15. "Our natural resources team is thrilled with where we are," said Matt Robbins, who works for Jeffco Open Space. CBS While Deer Creek is flowing and the spring green lights up the hillsides, the burn scare is still highly visible. But residents like Chris Miller are fine living with it, knowing that the park he and his wife regularly bring their dogs to will be available to them again. "We've been asking anytime we see somebody working at the pen space park. We're like, 'Do you know when it's gonna open? Do you have a feel?'", Miller joked. "They would never really give us a clear answer. They would just say, 'sometime this summer.' So, yes, very happy." The park had extensive damage, especially on the upper hillside elevations. Jeffco Open Space had to work on the amount of sediment that was draining from the creeks into Chatfield Reservoir, uproot trees and move rocks that were on unstable ground after the fires and fix trails damaged by bulldozer lines used to contain the blaze. During the partial reopening, park guests will be asked to stay on available trails until further notice. "The park has had a tough -- really tough -- 10 months, and we want to let people into the park, but we want them to know that we need to help the park as well," Robbins said. But the open space team knows how important this park as well as the others in the area are to residents and have been working as quickly as possible to give them back access to the space. "They started asking almost immediately after the fire," Robbins with a laugh. "And so we're thrilled that after 10 months we're able to offer two-thirds of the park." There will be a ceremony at Deer Creek Canyon Park May 15 to commemorate the partial reopening with a full reopening of the park expected to take place August 1. For those like Miller who live in the area, the excitement is palpable. On the first night of the fire, he told CBS Colorado there was a concern that the park would even survive at all. To have it avoid catastrophe and be open just a season later is a win for everyone down near Ken Caryl. "Honestly, it was fabulous that that was the end outcome," Miller concluded.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Neighbors in Morrison work along firefighters for National Wildfire Preparedness Day
MORRISON, Colo. (KDVR) — On Saturday afternoon, neighbors from four different neighborhoods in Morrison met at KingFisher Lake Park to receive their new Firewise signs. The four neighborhoods that are recognized within the Willow Springs community are Whale Rock, Sundance, Willow Springs North and Triangle Park. 'The effort to become Firewise took on new urgency after the Marshall Fire in 2021 in Boulder County, and two fires closer to home- the Snow Creek Fire in July 2022 and the Quarry Fire in 2024,' stated Ronda Scholting, the Public Information Officer with West Metro Fire. Those areas were recognized as Firewise USA sites by the National Fire Protection Association. What that means for the neighbors in the area is that they have worked hard and been proactive in reducing wildfire risk. Denver's best Mexican restaurants to try for Cinco De Mayo, according to Yelp The other thing neighbors are being recognized for is their strength in the community, coming together to make sure the neighborhood is as prepped as possible to reduce wildfire risk and protecting the homes in the area. 'Concerned about the risk of fire in the wildland/urban interface, many residents came together to take action, leading to the creation of local Firewise committees and a focus on community-wide wildfire preparedness,' Scholting said. Those signs will be posted in the areas. Firefighters with West Metro Fire will also be at the presentation of the signs. Wildfire season is all year long here in Colorado. Many counties across the state issue Red Flag Warning Days, so it's important to follow the area you live in. Here is more information about Red Flag Warning Days in Jefferson County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
01-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Colorado's Deer Creek Canyon Park to partially reopen as park recovers from Quarry Fire damage
Colorado's Deer Creek Canyon Park is scheduled to partially reopen this month after the Quarry Fire caused significant damage to the park in 2024. Jeffco Open Space said the park will open an hour before sunrise on May 15. Officials will also hold a ceremony from 10:30-11:30 a.m. to celebrate the park's reopening. CBS CBS Approximately 35% of Deer Creek Canyon Park was damaged when the Quarry Fire broke out last July. Since then, recovery efforts have been underway for fire suppression cleanup, trail maintenance, standing dead tree removal and erosion mitigation in severe and moderate burn areas. Cleanup crews also made water quality protection repairs to bulldozer lines on the east and west sides of the park. CBS Emergency Watershed Protection provided $350,000 to help cover helicopter mulch and seed drops for slopes that suffered severe burns. Jeffco Open Space used more than 10,000 pounds of native seed mix, some of which was sourced from JCOS parks, along with 60,000 pounds of straw mulch and pelletized hydro mulch to help stabilize slopes in the most erosion-prone areas. Officials said those efforts will help protect the Chatfield Reservoir from sediment runoff. Recovery work continues as the Conifer Wildland Division helps identify and remove hazard trees in burn scar areas and geologists assess rockfall hazards. CBS The parks' reopening was delayed until spring growth began to cover re-seeded areas due to concerns over off-trail use and the spread of invasive plants. Officials asked park visitors to stay on the trails to protect the area and for their own safety. Jeffco Open Space plans to fully reopen the park on Aug. 1, along with the seasonal reopening of the Black Bear Trail.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iconic Englewood pizzeria's future uncertain after 64 years in business
ENGLEWOOD Colo, (KDVR) — A popular Englewood pizzeria that has served families for 64 years soon has to close their doors and find a new location. The owners of 'Frank the Pizza King' say they have rented the building for more than six decades on South Broadway. Now it has been sold and the new property owners made it clear they'll have to leave. Benzina on Colfax stays open longer after announcing closure for rising costs 'The pizza is great,' said regular Misty Steinhauer. She's talking about the food at the popular Frank the Pizza King. '303-789 2279. that's the number I have memorized to order this pizza,' said customer Steven Laflar. He would know because he has been ordering his favorite meal since 1983. 'I get a coke and a 10-inch sausage since I started getting pizza here,' he said. 'I was in a little walker running through the kitchen,' said co-owner Matt Krascek. '64 years ago my grandfather started the business when he came to America. He immigrated from Italy.' Since then Frank the Pizza King has started sharing his recipes with the community. Krascek's family has called the building home for more than six decades. Last week he learned the new owners have different plans for the only place his family has known. Local nursery growing 2,000 trees to plant in Quarry Fire burn scar 'Our old owner contacted us on Thursday and said he was getting ready to accept the offer for the new owners to take over and they want us to evacuate,' he said. He created a post on Facebook announcing the news. It garnered a lot of attention. 'This is one of those places that just feel like home,' said Steven. 'I'm super bummed.' Customers started a petition that now has more than 1,700 signatures with people hoping the popular pizzeria will stay. 'It's meant a lot and really shows how much Frank means to this community,' said Krascek. While the future of the generational business is uncertain, Krascek wants his faithful customers to know one thing. 'We love you, you're a part of the Franks family and you always will be. The Krascek family and our employees are so grateful for you. Grateful for the 64 years you've been with us,' Krascek said. Sign up for the FOX31 Denver Guide weekly newsletter for events and activities Krascek has not yet had a conversation with the new owners but hopes the petition will help them see how much this place means to the community. Right now there's no official date set for the closure. 'If you want to come in come in as soon as possible because we're not sure how much longer we'll be here.' said Krascek.'Come enjoy it and be a part of the family one more time.' FOX31 also reached out to the owner but did not immediately receive a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Migrant support center reeling from funding cuts, recent fire threatens operations
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — A nonprofit that focuses on helping refugees and migrants in an Aurora community may have to cut some of its operations because of significant funding cuts. To add to that challenge police are also investigating a dumpster fire that was set just feet away from their building. At least 9 international student visas revoked at Colorado universities Marcel Narucki, cofounder of the Village Exchange Center, said for the last eight years the group has helped thousands of underserved families in the community. 'What you see here is going to feed 900 families tomorrow,' he said. 'We serve essentially the neighborhood,' said Narucki. 'The neighborhood is largely comprised of refugees and immigrants. Right now we're serving for example our food pantry, we're feeding over 4,000 people a week.' The nonprofit also offers wrap-around services and a community farm that grows culturally appropriate food for the different communities they serve. 'We have cultural navigators if someone is coming for food and they have the needs we're providing resources and places for them to go to serve their needs,' said Narucki. That work has helped people like Darwin Gonzalez who has been picking up food for his family at the center for the last eight months. Thousands of pounds of wildflower seeds air-dropped over Quarry Fire burn scar 'I don't have the words to explain how grateful I am I have been in circumstances. I rely on this place a lot,' said Gonzalez. Lately, that mission has been made harder. 'Funding in these last few weeks has been literally cut off,' Narucki said. 'So starting with the big FEMA federal grants that stopped a couple of weeks ago. Essentially we lost over 2 million dollars for our food pantry. Most recently we lost about $650,000 for health access programs. Just today I came from a meeting with some of our staff. We're having to let two people go, cut hours for several people. Both are single mothers, they are basically the face of a lot of people we serve. When I say fear, multiply that fate by hundreds and thousands.' In addition to those challenges, a surveillance camera from outside the center captured video from Thursday night around 8:30 p.m. It shows a woman walking around the dumpster. She makes a motion with her hands, and moments later you see large flames coming from the dumpster. 'We can't say the intent, we don't know, but what we see in the footage is a fire intentionally started,' said Narucki. 'We're already struggling with severe limitations and our ability to be able to serve people. When it happens at this moment it just makes us feel so much more vulnerable.' Parker mother prayed over child thrown from car hit by drunk driver Fire crews arrived quickly and were able to put out the fire before it damaged the building. Narucki says he still has fears not knowing a motive or where the future of the nonprofit stands. 'We'll have to see,' he said. 'We're really in a vulnerable place right now and looking at not being able to help and respond to the people in need.' An Aurora fire spokesperson told FOX31 they are investigating the fire, but there are no further details to share. Meanwhile, if you want to help the Village Exchange Center you can visit their website and click the donate tab. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
