East Troublesome Fire 100% contained, after burning 193,812 acres
DENVER (KRDO) - On Monday afternoon, officials declared the East Troublesome Fire to be 100% contained.
Officials said the fire, which was the second largest fire in Colorado's history, destroyed 193,812 acres and claimed the live of two local residents, 86-year-old Lyle Hileman and his 84-year-old Marylin, who were later found in their burned home near Grand Lake.
The blaze started the afternoon of October 14th near Kremmling in Grand County, in the Arapahoe National Forest. According to officials, the blaze destroyed or damaged 366 homes and another 214 outbuildings and commercial structures. It was fueled by wide-spread drought, numerous dead trees that were killed and downed by Pine Beetles. Firefighting efforts were also hampered by extremely high, shifting winds that caused the fire to spread rapidly.
The worst damage occurred between October 21st to October 23rd, when the size of blaze exploded from 18,550 acres to 187,964 acres, and spread eastward into the Rocky Mountain National Park, and reaching the western edge of Estes Park.
Firefighters got some much-needed relief in the form of a winter storm on the night of Saturday, Oct. 24th, which continued through the morning of Oct. 26th. Cold temperatures, snow and lighter winds, resulted in a dramatic drop in the fire's behavior and smoldered flames, reducing the spread of the fire on both sides of the Continental Divide.
Over that 3-day period, the growth of the fire fell to a total of around 4,500 acres for a total of 192,457 acres. From that point forward, fire activity remained minimal with little change.
Officials said the final total of burned acreage 193,812. The fire was declared 100% contained on Tuesday afternoon.
Land managers said they have turned their attention to emergency response and recovery efforts, and said that portions of the area are still closed to the public, sighting safety concerns.
