Take notice that the Beaver Creek fire burning in unit 161 is not contained yet and will not be until Oct. they are now predicting. Big area of closure on NF and BLM around Independence Mtn and up into S. Wyoming.
Beaver Creek Fire
- Thread starter wy-tex
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gypsumreaper
Active Member
- Mar 13, 2014
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This is taken from Craig Colorado looking northeast towards the fire June 28. Just to put the size in perspective this is when the fire was 9,000 acres it grew to 13,000 overnight. It's 40 miles from Craig to steamboat springs, I'm not sure what air miles are from Craig to the fire but I'm sure it's around at least 50.
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highplainsdrifter
Very Active Member
Here is a picture of the Beaver Creek fire taken from the top of the Snowy Range in Wyoming looking southwest into Colorado (July 10, 2016). Fire is about 50 miles away. So far, it is moving east and staying in Colorado but is only a couple of miles from the Wyoming border.
JimP
Administrator
It jumped over into Wyoming the last couple of days.
All I can say is that I'm glad that I don't hunt up that ways. I have been chased out of my hunting area by a fire and not allowed into a area because of a fire. Both were the pits after having done a lot of scouting the summer before.
All I can say is that I'm glad that I don't hunt up that ways. I have been chased out of my hunting area by a fire and not allowed into a area because of a fire. Both were the pits after having done a lot of scouting the summer before.
19,464 acres now and expected to grow on the North and East sides and filling in the islands that were missed previously by fire. They are letting it burn as the downed timber and beetle kill trees are too hazardous for firefighters. They are only doing home and property protection, so mother nature is going to have to put this fire out.
Colorado Cowboy
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ssliger
Very Active Member
JimP
Administrator
It will be interesting to see just how much of the beetle kill that it does take out. It has been my experience that usually when a fire goes through a area it mostly just burns the green spruce and fir trees since they are so easy to ignite while the dead stuff has to take a intense flame and other dead logs around it to feed a good fire to get the dead to burn.
It's a lot like throwing a large log onto a campfire. You can leave it there for quite a while and then pull it out and all it has on it is a charring and won't burn on its own but as long as there is a good flame it will add to the fire.
It's a lot like throwing a large log onto a campfire. You can leave it there for quite a while and then pull it out and all it has on it is a charring and won't burn on its own but as long as there is a good flame it will add to the fire.
brianboh
Active Member
I do not know why they do not practice more prescribed burning out west. It is the greatest tool. Burn the litter layer up under the right conditions. SO many good outcomes by doing this. Then when you have a natural fire it will not spread as fast. Smokey the Bear was one of the worst things to come out for Wildlife and Timber Management.
highplainsdrifter
Very Active Member
Prescribed burning is one thing (which I would support). An unplanned fire, possible started by a careless person, is another matter. This fire will cost millions of dollars to control. It may also burn some valuable buildings. So I do not share some people's enthusiasm for this fire.
JimP
Administrator
It's as they say that the Forest Service and BLM suppressed any and all fires for so long that the undergrowth has grown to the point that nothing can live under it. Now since the Yellowstone fire they have learned that fire is a good thing and needs to happen ever so often.
One big problem is that as the old ranchers and farmers die off their family sees a opportunity to make a lot of money so the subdivide the property and homes are built on it with no regard to what is going to happen when it does burn. So now they are back to suppressing a lot of the fires that should take place or a lot of the homes will be lost. It's a dammed if you do and dammed if you don't type of thing.
One big problem is that as the old ranchers and farmers die off their family sees a opportunity to make a lot of money so the subdivide the property and homes are built on it with no regard to what is going to happen when it does burn. So now they are back to suppressing a lot of the fires that should take place or a lot of the homes will be lost. It's a dammed if you do and dammed if you don't type of thing.
gypsumreaper
Active Member
- Mar 13, 2014
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After talking to a few people working the fire my understanding was they kind of want it to burn up what's there which is why they haven't put up full efforts to stop it, the fire that burned roughly the first 13,000 acres wasn't even burning all the way it was running tree tops and wouldn't even reach the ground. They are at the point they want it to begin back burning and burning the lower layers of the trees and undergrowth. My understanding is they are only trying to set up barriers and protect buildings to allow it to burn fully through top to bottom. This is just hearsay from people that were around the area and talked to people here and there so I can't confirm any of this is true. But the way it has looked is they aren't really doing a ton of fighting it just preventative things to try and contain it. Not sure how many people are stationed there now but it was 400 for the longest time. I say let it burn this one up and let the area regenerate fires are a part of life and I'm pretty sure it was a lightning strike that started this one we had a pretty good electrical storm roll through a few days before the fire started if that's the case it's just Mother Nature doing what she does
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Fire has moved east towards the Trophy Mountain Ranch, might be some big bulls running loose if the fence burns. Only mother nature could put out a fire burning in heavy, standing and fallen dead timber.
ssliger
Very Active Member
They're advertising a 450" bull for 20K right now. If he gets loose on public that place is going to be a zoo.
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Hilltop
Veteran member
JimP
Administrator
I would be willing to bet that if any domescated elk get out of their pens that the Parks and Wildlife will have orders to shoot on sight. There are just too many problems if one of them would get loose.
Browntailguy
Member
- Jan 10, 2013
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What gmu's might affect if any? Nonresident heading that way this September. Just curious if anyone knows. Tia
gypsumreaper
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- Mar 13, 2014
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