Tag: firefighting
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Aspen Acres blaze nears 102,000 acres; new incident team set to take over
A new incident team is preparing to take over management of the Aspen Acres fire as the seventh-largest wildland blaze in Colorado history approaches 102,000 acres. Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 will assume operational command of the blaze at 6 a.m. Tuesday, relieving Northern Rockies CIMT 6, officials said Monday. “The Rocky Mountain…
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Many evacuees await return from Aspen Acres blaze as Huerfano County issues new orders
As hundreds of firefighters made progress in slowing the eastward spread of the Aspen Acres fire, its expansion to the south and west prompted new pre-evacuation orders in Huerfano County. Officials asked residents for patience as many areas, including the towns of Rye and San Isabel, remain under evacuation orders. “Overall, progress has been made,…
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Pilot killed in plane crash while supporting Gold Mountain firefighting: Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office
A pilot supporting firefighting efforts with the Gold Mountain fire died in a plane crash on Sunday, according to the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office. At 5:17 p.m. Sunday, regional dispatch received a call about an aircraft down in the Silver Jack Reservoir, located in southwest Gunnison County. Sheriff Adam Murdie confirmed that the aircraft had…
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Aspen Acres fire crews make headway; blaze is 13% contained
UPDATE (8:50 p.m.): According to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, all areas under per-evacuation in the county have been upgraded to mandatory evacuation orders. This also includes the town of Williamsburg.The areas under evacuation include, according to the sheriff’s office social media announcement:-Fremont County Roads 15, 103, and 100-Newlin Ridge Road-Los Pinos Subdivision-Lock Mountain Estates-The…
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Helitack adds short-haul capability to Front Range
An elite group of firefighters trained to respond rapidly to wildfires has been added to the Forest Service helicopter short-haul program. The Monument Helitack is a specialized team of highly trained firefighters who are transported by helicopter to suppress wildfires. Helitack is the managing and delivery of these firefighters and equipment by helicopter for rapid,…
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New agency key partner in wildfire response
The newly created U.S. Wildland Fire Service is now a key federal partner in Colorado’s wildfire response, officials said last week, as the state prepares for an elevated fire season. The agency, established in January under the Department of the Interior, consolidates wildland firefighters and programs from four Interior bureaus into a single unified organization…
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New agency key partner in wildfire response
The newly created U.S. Wildland Fire Service is now a key federal partner in Colorado’s wildfire response, officials said last week, as the state prepares for an elevated fire season. The agency, established in January under the Department of the Interior, consolidates wildland firefighters and programs from four Interior bureaus into a single unified organization…
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Controlled burns planned at Fort Carson and Piñon Canyon site near Trinidad
Crews will be conducting controlled burns across Fort Carson and at the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site northeast of Trinidad starting through the winter and into the early spring. Fort Carson will not be announcing each individual burn, but the Mountain Post will work with local fire departments to ensure they are aware of the planned…
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Colorado Springs proposes $939 million budget for 2025, including raises and more police
Colorado Springs unveiled its proposed $939 million budget for 2025 Monday, featuring pay increases and new positions for the police department, neighborhood services and sales tax enforcement. The budget is up from 2024 when the Colorado Springs City Council approved $900 million in spending across all its departments, including entities that are self-sustaining through fees,…
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Oak Ridge fire grows to 787 acres, zero percent contained
Residents in Middle Creek Canyon are under a mandatory evacuation notice as the Oak Ridge fire on the western edge of Pueblo County reached an estimated 787 acres with zero containment as of Tuesday evening. Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero said during a Tuesday press conference that firefighters had expected the fire to grow significantly…