Bald Mountain Fire In Clear Creek Canyon Area Forces Closure Of Highway 6
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - A small wildfire, dubbed the Bald Mountain Fire, broke out Friday afternoon in Jefferson County and authorities have shut down Highway 6 in Clear Creek Canyon. The closure went into effect at approximately 3:20 p.m. Friday and would not reopen until Saturday.
UPDATE #BaldMountainFire has grown to 25 acres; air ops are done for the day; 50-60 firefighters on scene for the night; media update at 8am Saturday at Rockland Community Church; no evacuations yet but pre-evac notices sent out #jeffco @efr_co pic.twitter.com/1Z8Ej9kOcc
— Jeffco Sheriff (@jeffcosheriffco) September 21, 2019
Copter4 captured video of a plume of smoke and some trees on fire on a mountaintop near the highway.
The #BaldMountainFire is about one acre in size. Please avoid Hwy 6, which is closed between 93 & 119 in both directions, while multiple fire agencies fight the fire @efr_co #jeffco pic.twitter.com/cAKTBQkTXZ
— Jeffco Sheriff (@jeffcosheriffco) September 20, 2019
According to Intercanyon Fire Deputy Chief Daniel Hatlestad, a second helicopter has been requested for additional water drops.
The size of the fire was about 25 acres burning in rough, rocky terrain on Friday night. The closest home is sixth-tenths of a mile away from the blaze. As of Friday evening, no structures were threatened.
West Metro Fire Rescue sent a crew of firefighters and a brush truck to help out with the wildfire. There are nine agencies helping fight the fire with a total of 50 firefighters on scene for the night.
We are responding to a fire off of Hwy. 6 so we've shut down Hwy. 6 in both directions from Hwy. 93 to 119. Avoid the area please #jeffco pic.twitter.com/8OuK2RiaOw
— Jeffco Sheriff (@jeffcosheriffco) September 20, 2019
Low humidity combined with gusty southwesterly winds of 25 mph have brought an elevated threat for wildfires to Colorado on Friday, and those conditions are contributing to fueling the fire.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning until 8 p.m. for the Interstate 25 corridor from Denver to Trinidad and along the Arkansas River valley. Much of the western slope is also included.
The combination of low humidity, gusty winds, and dry vegetation means if a fire were to start on Friday, it could spread rapidly.
While this September has been a very warm month, it has also been a mainly dry month. The last measurable precipitation that was on Sept. 8 and about half of Colorado is considered to be at least "abnormally dry."
Wildfire Resources
- Visit CBSDenver.com's Colorado Wildfires section.
Wildfire Photo Galleries
- See images from the most destructive wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile), the deadliest (Storm King) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.