Cooler temperatures and much-needed rains are helping to calm
persistent wildfires burning on more than 55,000 acres across
Colorado.
"We're getting a lot of precipitation that's moderating fire
behavior in most places, even though some of the fires have gained
acreage," said Larry Helmerick of the Rocky Mountain Coordination
Center.
The Big Fish Fire burning in wilderness about 45 miles east of
Meeker grew more than 1,000 acres during the weekend to 17,056
acres. Fire crews are monitoring the area but plan to let the fire
burn. Helicopters were being used to drop water to keep it from
spreading outside its intended boundary.
High humidity is slowing the spread of the nearby Lost Lakes
fire, which grew about 400 acres to 5,538.
So far, it has cost $1.5 million to manage the fires, which have
been burning since July.
More than a half-inch of rain fell Sunday night on the Mount
Zirkel Complex of two wildfires north of Steamboat Springs burning
on about 31,014 acres. It was 90 percent contained.
"This week's weather should really lessen the fire danger on
the Front Range," Helmerick said.
The weather could be a real problem for the Hayman burn area, according to the National Weather Service. A flash flood watch was in effect until 5 a.m. Tuesday for the area. Forecasters said rainfall rates in the flood-prone area could be as high as 2 inches an hour during the watch period.
Crews fighting a 200-acre wildfire west of Carbondale contained
half the fire Sunday night and were expecting full containment
Monday evening if cool weather continued. The fire has been burning
since Thursday.
A smokejumper who broke a leg while fighting the fire underwent
surgery last week and began physical therapy.
Matt Alexander, 29, of Redding, Calif., suffered the injury
Thursday afternoon. Doctors at a Grand Junction hospital inserted a
titanium rod in his leg.
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.