Good News on the Fire Front!
Saturday Evening Update:
Evacuations have now been lifted for:
Garden Creek
Casper Mountain Road up to but not including Hogadon Road
The only roadblocks now in place are on Casper Mountain Road, just the north of its juncture with Hogadon Road.
The aftermath of forest fires can be very dangerous, so people returning to their homes are advised to use extreme caution. Several major hazards should be looked for.
Hot spots. The fire can still be burning even when there are no flames to be seen. Forests have deep mats of pine needles that are often mistaken for dirt. Flames can smolder in these pockets for weeks afterward, occasionally igniting logs trees and bushes on the surface. Fire crews will continue to look for these hot spots with thermal imagery equipment. Once found, they can be dug up and extinguished, but it is unlikely that these hotspots will be fully extinguished until after the first heavy snowfall.
Ash Pits.
Check propane tanks and electrical boxes.
Check well heads. If they are damaged, have the water inspected before drinking it.
Watch for sharp sticks, dust, and loose soil and rocks.
The fire is now 85% contained. No significant setbacks have been reported. Fire crews have been focusing on the southeastern end of the fire today, which remains hot and active. Other fire crews are eliminating hotspots through the interior of the fire zone, and crews with hand tools and heavy equipment will be attempting to clean up the fire lines that were created by bulldozers over the last few days.