World News
Quarry fire caused extensive damage to Deer Creek Canyon Park
As damage assessments continue, Chris Barker, spokesman for Jefferson County Open Space, confirmed that the quarry fire caused extensive damage to Deer Creek Canyon Park.
Firefighters achieved 100% containment a week ago and Jeffco crews have been inspecting county properties since then. They cannot say when the park will reopen.
“Almost 600 hectares were affected, all on our property, and our teams have to go out and search every part of the property, determine the extent of the impact, determine restoration, maintenance and safety aspects, map and log everything, and then coordinate efforts. to get this all done internally,” Barker wrote in an email. “Two bulldozer fire lines were placed to contain the fire, hand lines dug by firefighters, burn scars and dead trees posing a safety hazard, not to mention the possibility of flash floods/mudslides due to the loss of vegetation. ”
Deer Creek Canyon Park is popular with hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. It measures 1,637 acres, most of it on steep terrain with an elevation gain of 1,200 feet, 5.6 miles west of Chatfield Reservoir. The 580-acre fire, which forced nearly 600 homes to evacuate after it started late July 30, has not destroyed any buildings, officials said.
On the outdoor recreation front, there is better news with the Alexander Mountain fire west of Loveland, which has destroyed nearly 10,000 acres. According to Reid Armstrong, public affairs specialist for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, no developed recreation areas have been damaged on national forest land.
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