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Fire's path twice initial estimates

Mapping system delineates 3,008-acre reach of wildfire

By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 9, 2009 at 7:56 p.m.
Updated January 10, 2009 at 11:03 a.m.

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A satellite image shows the extent of the Olde Stage Fire north of Boulder, which raced through the foothills Wednesday and Thursday.

Photo by Satellite Image courtesy of Digitalglobe

A satellite image shows the extent of the Olde Stage Fire north of Boulder, which raced through the foothills Wednesday and Thursday.

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The Olde Stage Fire north of Boulder burned about 3,008 acres, more than twice the area previously estimated, officials said Friday.

A mapping system enabled officials to pinpoint the burn area, according to Cmdr. Phil West, spokesman for Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

Fire officials had estimated 1,400 acres burned as the wildfire, driven by fierce chinook winds, raced through the foothills Wednesday and Thursday.

As of Friday, the Olde Stage Fire was considered contained but not controlled; stump fires and hot spots still needed to be extinguished.

A 23-person Juniper Valley crew from the Department of Corrections was working the area, and a fire crew from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office will be on hand over the weekend.

Damage from the fire also was revised downward Friday from two homes and three barns to one home and three outbuildings.

However, the number of structures lost to the blaze is expected to rise as sheds and smaller buildings are tallied. Several homes also sustained damage to decks, fences and landscaping.

Estimates of the total loss from the wildfire and the cost of the firefighting effort were not available Friday.

Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department also announced the emergency closure of certain areas due to the wildfire.

Affected areas include the Left Hand trailhead, which is one mile east of U.S. 36 on Neva Road, and the following trails: Beech, Left Hand, North Rim, North Foothills and Hogback Ridge.

Officials said the closures, which will be in effect until further notice, are necessary to protect visitors and natural resources that are vulnerable following a wildfire.

Comments

  • January 9, 2009

    9:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    280Pagoda writes:

    What a dramatic photograph showing how close to a disaster the fire was.

    There but for the grace of god go I.

    Congrats to the firefighters for doing such a great, professional job and saving so many structures and lives.

    This, my friends, was a very close call.

  • January 10, 2009

    8:36 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    JustSayin writes:

    "Global Information Services mapping system" ??!?

    Do you perhaps mean 'GPS (global positioning system) units were used to gather data that were compiled with a GIS (geographic information system), and then maps were created and acreage figures developed?

    Though they probably got the Digital Globe image and outlined the burn area via heads-up (on-screen) digitizing with the GIS software and didn't use GPS at all.

    This technology is ubiquitous - how about learning about it if you're going to report on it - even if just to get the names correct and not embarrass yourself??

  • January 10, 2009

    8:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    granolaMUNCHINGtreehugger writes:

    you should have called all the subaru driving granola munchin tree huggers of Boulder to stomp out the flames!