Regional News

Crews have shuffled between the Cameron Peak and Boulder County fires this week, underscoring a shortage of fire personnel and equipment that has plagued firefighting efforts nationwide, especially in California and the Pacific Northwest.

The order, which was issued based on observed fire behavior observed and the winds forecast for later in the day, is intended to "allow residents time to safely evacuate and prevent any evacuations being needed in the middle of the night," according to a post on the Boulder County Office of Emergency Management website.

The county and BLM closures are in step with the U.S. Forest Service closure in Clear Creek, Jefferson, Gilpin, Boulder and Larimer counties.

Modeling presented by state epidemiologist Rachel Herlihy at a news briefing Tuesday showed that if current levels of transmission are maintained, Colorado’s intensive care bed capacity would be exceeded by late December.

The CalWood fire was burning 9,365 acres and was 17% contained as of Tuesday afternoon. The Lefthand Canyon fire had grown to 470 acres and was 4% contained. 

The temporary closure applies to all national forest land in Clear Creek, Jefferson, Gilpin, Boulder and Larimer counties, effective at midnight Tuesday, according to a Forest Service news release. The closure will be re-evaluated daily.

About two dozen total structures have been destroyed in the CalWood fire, according to the sheriff’s office.

Conditions held through the afternoon Monday, allowing the aerial support for ground crews, according to officials, and they stated crews were making good progress in constructing line and mopping up on both fires.

The original CCC might be nearly 90 years old, but the general concept still appears to have deep public support.

An evacuation point is set up at Nederland Community Center and livestock is being taken at the Gilpin County Fairgrounds in Black Hawk.