Big Elk Fire Expands Again

Pinewood Springs, Colo. -- There was no stopping the Big Elk fire Saturday as it continued to expand almost unabated in the rugged mountains southeast of Estes Park, Colo.

Firefighters battled the blaze Saturday morning without the help of slurry-dropping air tankers Friday which had been grounded since the fatal crash of a PB4Y air tanker near the fire Thursday night. Only water-carrying helicopters were left in the arsenal of air weapons to help firefighters on the ground.

Three helicopters -- capable of carrying 1,000-gallon and 200-gallon loads -- flew continuously to dump water on the wildfire.

BIG ELK FIRE INTERACTIVE ARTICLE: Plane In Previous Crash Owned By Same Company VIDEO: Eyewitnesses Describe Crash VIDEO: Working Life Of Tanker Pilots VIDEO: Role Of Air Tankers VIDEO: Evacuee Tells His Story SLIDESHOW: Air Tanker Overview SLIDESHOW: Big Elk Fire - Day 1 SLIDESHOW: Big Elk Fire - Day 2 Big Elk Fire Map FLASH: Fire Causes And Protections DISCUSSION: Should Old Planes Still Be Used? RESOURCES Evacuation Tips Smell Smoke? MAP:Fire Point Of Origin USFS: Big Elk Fire Larimer County Web Site Current Colorado Wildfires Clickable Colorado Wildfires Map

"The lack of air tankers is a problem," said Joe Hartman, the incident commander for the Type II fire fighting team assigned to the fire. "Anytime you have resource you can't use, you have to look at different strategies, different techniques."

The fire grew to 4,000 acres by noon Saturday, threatening the evacuated Big Elk Meadow subdivision. There are a total of 152 homes in the subdivision: 124 are in Larimer County and 28 in Boulder County.

The most recent evacuation was of a two to three mile area along Highway 36 northwest of Pinewood Springs. The affected area was between Lion's Gulch and Harvest House. The evacuation area does include Jellystone, but does not include Pole Hill, officials said.

Big Elk Meadows, Cheley Camp, Lake Pasture and Little Valley were also under mandatory evacuation. Buttonrock and Longmont Dam Road were put on evacuation alert. Estes Park west of Fishcreek and south of Highway 34 ere under an evacuation advisory. Twin Sisters south to Meeker Park was also under an evacuation advisory.

Residents of Pinewood Springs are on standby of a possible evacuation in the future.

Firefighters could do little but try to protect the homes and watch the fire grow. The fire was reported to be only one percent contained, according to Forest Service officials.

"(The lack of slurry bombers) definitely reduces our capability to build a fire line," said Ron Gosnell, an information officer for the inter-agency firefighting team. "Fire retardant is effective after it dries -- water isn't. Aerial retardant is sometimes the only safe way to make a fire line."

Flights by slurry bombers were scheduled to resume later Saturday after the temporary grounding for inspections.

About 350 additional firefighters were ordered to fight the Big Elk fire, the Rocky Mountain region's No. 2 priority behind the Little Elk fire in South Dakota. Some crews arrived Saturday, and the remainder will arrive as they become available.

Photographs of Thursday's air tanker crash showed a fireball coming from the 47-year-old plane and the left wing separating from the main fuselage. The main body of the plane, with flames coming from the side, crashed on the north side of the fire, within one-hundred yards of Highway 36. Parts of the wreckage even fell on the highway, 7NEWS reported.

Officials said that U.S. 36 would remain closed from Lyons to Estes Park until at least 5 p.m. Saturday.

The severed wing and an engine from the doomed plane were found about a quarter mile away from the main wreckage. Investigators said that both pilots died on impact.

Investigators said that it was too early to speculate on the cause of the crash.

Officials said that the blaze moved aggressively to the north Friday, to within 6 miles of Estes Park, and somewhat less to the south toward Boulder County.

The fire weather forecast for Saturday called for winds of up to 15 mph out of the south-southeast, with temperatures in the 80s, an a relative humidity of about ten percent.

The fire was moving toward one of Colorado's original settlements. Homestead Meadows, at the end of the three-mile Lion Gulch trail, is home to eight historical structures that were built between 1889 and 1923. Officials said one of the structures has already been lost to the fire.

Previous Stories:

• July 20, 2002: Pilot Killed In Crash Was Newly Married
• July 19, 2002: Big Elk Fire Now 2,500 Acres And Growing
• July 18, 2002: 2 Killed When Air Tanker Fighting Big Elk Fire Crashes
Wildfire Near Estes Park, Pinewood Springs Lays Down
• June 18, 2002: Investigation Begins In Fatal Air Tanker Crash
• June 18, 2002: 3 Die In California Air Tanker Crash
• June 17, 2002: Air Tanker Crashes Fighting Sierra Wildfire