Colorado wildfire grows to 592 acres after campfire ruled cause, 45% contained

The Interlaken Fire in Colorado's high country has burned 592 acres, and some residents who live near it in Lake County were asked to evacuate. Fire officials say the wildfire is 45% contained as of Friday morning.

In an update on Wednesday night, it was determined by the U.S. Forest Service Fire investigator an abandoned campfire was the cause of the Interlaken Fire. This campfire was discovered about 60 yards from the Interlaken Trail and 1.5 miles from the trailhead.

The fire -- located near Twin Lakes and about 20 miles south of Leadville -- was first reported early on Tuesday afternoon and it sent a large plume of smoke up into the blue sky.

Some pre-evacuation orders that were put in place after the fire started have been lifted, but other evacuation orders remain in effect. The areas of Balltown are no longer on pre-evacuation notice on Wednesday morning. Lost Canyon is under pre-evacuation orders. 

Fire officials say on the east side, near the Div D and Div A break, the fire has burned into the edge of a previously prescribed burn from 2018 - the Flume Creek Prescribed Burn. The efficacy of this prescribed project has become extremely evident. 

It is acting as a holding feature and the fire has slowed or stopped in this area, allowing firefighters to gain direct access and help prevent spread toward communities to the east, according to fire officials. 

Pre-evacuation notices are in place for the Lost Canyon (CR 30), and Chafee County areas north of CR 390 to the county line (Cache Creek, Clear Creek). 

Investigators did not have leads for who left the campfire upon determining the cause. Anyone with information about campers with a fire near the Interlaken Resort between June 7 and June 11 can call the tip line at 303-275-5266.  

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