How long did the 416 Fire last?
The 416 Fire was declared fully contained on July 31, 2018 after burning 52,778 acres (21,358 ha) acres over 61 days. The Burro Fire was contained a day later, on Aug. 1, 2018. Over 1300 homes and businesses were forced to evacuate due to the fire.
What caused the 416 Fire in Colorado?
Ignited by embers from a coal-fueled passenger train on June 1, 2018, the 416 Fire burned 54,130 acres of the San Juan National Forest in southwest Colorado. By the time it was fully contained on July 31, it had become the sixth-largest wildfire in Colorado history.
What are the 416 & Burro Fire Complex Fires?
The 416 & Burro Fire Complex are active wildfires in the southwestern portion of Colorado in the United States. The fires are predominately within San Juan National Forest, 13 miles north of Durango and 14 miles south of Rico. The 416 fire started on June 1, 2018 and the Burro Fire followed on June 8th. The causes are still under investigation.
Will the 416 Fire impact the Purgatory Resort?
Concerns about the fire impacting the Purgatory Resort were reduced, however hotshot crews remained in the area to protect the resort, if needed. The 416 Fire was declared fully contained on July 31, 2018 after burning 52,778 acres (21,358 ha) acres over 61 days.
See more
What started the 416 Fire?
Ignited by embers from a coal-fueled passenger train on June 1, 2018, the 416 Fire burned 54,130 acres of the San Juan National Forest in southwest Colorado. By the time it was fully contained on July 31, it had become the sixth-largest wildfire in Colorado history.
What is the longest burning wildfire in history?
The Chinchaga Fire started in logging slash in British Columbia, Canada, on 1 June 1950 that grew out of control and ended five months later on 31 October in Alberta; in that time, it burned approximately 1.2 million hectares (3 million acres) of boreal forest.
How long did the Big Burn of 1910 last?
For two terrifying days and night's - August 20 and 21, 1910 - the fire raged across three million acres of virgin timberland in northern Idaho and western Montana. Many thought the world would end, and for 86 fire victims, it did.
When was the 416 Fire in Durango?
June 1, 2018Cres Fleming, who lives on Irongate Way, was one of the first at the scene of the 416 Fire, which started June 1, 2018, north of Durango. Fleming tried to extinguish the blaze before it topped a hillside and got away.
What's the worst fire in US history?
The Great Fires of 1871 (Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin) The worst of all was perhaps the Great Peshtigo Fire, which ravaged the Wisconsin countryside and killed more than 1,500—making it the deadliest forest fire in U.S. history.
What was the deadliest fire in US history?
RankEventNumber of deaths1The World Trade Center New York, NY2,6662S.S. Sultana steamship boiler explosion and fire Mississippi River1,5473Forest fire Peshtigo, WI, and envions1,1524General Slocum excursion steamship fire New York, NY1,03016 more rows
What is the biggest man made fire?
1. The Tsar Bomba. On October 30, 1961, the USSR detonated the largest nuclear weapon ever tested and created the biggest man-made explosion in history. The blast, 3,000 times as strong as the bomb used on Hiroshima, broke windows 560 miles away, according to Slate.
Are fire jumpers real?
Smokejumpers are experienced wildland firefighters who fly to fires via airplane and parachute as closely as they can to a fire. Smokejumpers can get to remote fires safely and quickly, helping keep high-risk fires small.
How much did the big burn cost?
The fire burned over two days on the weekend of August 20–21, after strong winds caused numerous smaller fires to combine into a firestorm of unprecedented size....Great Fire of 1910CostUnknownDate(s)August 20–21, 1910Burned area3,000,000 acres (4,700 sq mi; 12,100 km2)CauseNot officially determined6 more rows
How big was the Durango fire?
DURANGO — The 100-acre Perins Peak Fire near Durango, Colorado, may have been caused by human activity, according to a U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management news release. The blaze broke out on the afternoon of May 24 and quickly grew to what was estimated at just over 100 acres.
How many acres did the Missionary Ridge Fire burn?
73,000 acresThe Missionary Ridge Fire began on June 9, 2002, northeast of Durango in southwest Colorado. It burned until July 15, destroying forty-six houses and cabins and charring 73,000 acres of La Plata County forest. One firefighter died while fighting the blaze, which became the seventh-largest wildfire in Colorado history.
When was the fire in Durango Colorado?
The fire has burned 102 acres since starting on Tuesday May 27, 2022 at 3:25 p.m. The Perins Peak fire, burning northwest of Durango, is now 36% contained, fire officials said on Friday.
How long did the Peshtigo Fire last?
two hours8-9, 1871, this fire destroyed in two hours a swath of forest 10 miles wide and 40 miles long and obliterated the towns of Peshtigo and Brussels, killing about 1,500 people.
Why does history forget the Peshtigo Fire?
Peshtigo's logging industry was partially to blame for the disaster. In an era before responsible forest management practices, loggers simply stripped the land without regard for potential fire hazards they created.
What year did Yellowstone burn?
1988The Yellowstone fires of 1988 have been described as being instrumental in the public's understanding of the role of fire in ecosystems. In June of 1988, park managers and fire behavior specialists allowed 18 lightning-caused fires to burn after evaluating them, according to the fire management plan.
How many died in the Peshtigo Fire of 1871?
1,200-2,400 livesFire reached Peshtigo during the evening of Sunday, October 8, 1871. By the time the fire ended, it had consumed ~1.5 million acres, and an estimated 1,200-2,400 lives (exact number unknown), including approximately 800 in Peshtigo.
How many acres were burned in the 416 fire?
Ignited by embers from a coal-fueled passenger train on June 1, 2018, the 416 Fire burned 54,130 acres of the San Juan National Forest in southwest Colorado. By the time it was fully contained on July 31, it had become the sixth-largest wildfire in Colorado history. Although the fire briefly threatened the communities of Hermosa and Durango, nobody was hurt and no structures were damaged.
Where was the 416 fire?
The conflagration was quickly named the 416 Fire, as it was the 416th incident (not all were fires) reported to the Columbine Ranger District in the San Juan National Forest.
How did the 416 fire affect the Animas River?
In July and September 2018, heavy rains washed ash-filled sediment down the Hermosa Creek drainage into the Animas River, resulting in an 80 percent reduction in fish population.
What was the cause of the 416 fire?
As the 416 Fire burned, residents of Hermosa and Durango already suspected that the Durango & Silverton Railroad was to blame. When a Forest Service investigation confirmed as much in July 2019, the US District Attorney’s Office in Denver immediately filed suit against the railroad, seeking $25 million to cover the government’s firefighting costs. In 2019 a federal judge rejected the railroad’s motion to dismiss the case. In addition to the federal lawsuit, the railroad faces more than two dozen civil lawsuits from plaintiffs in Durango and Silverton seeking to recoup money lost when tourists were shut out of the area during the fire.
How many firefighters were in the 416 fire?
By mid-June, more than 1,000 firefighters were battling the 416 Fire. Rainstorms over the weekend of June 16 gave crews a welcome reprieve and allowed hundreds of firefighters to be reassigned to other fires across the country; later that week, the number of involved firefighters dropped to 548. Containment reached 37 percent by June 21, with protective lines dug out to shield Hermosa from the blaze. By that point, firefighting costs had already topped $20 million.
How did the 416 fire affect the railroad?
Without plants and roots, soils fall into and raise riverbeds, making them more prone to flooding. After the 416 Fire, flood damage prompted the majority of civil lawsuits against the railroad. Loose soils also increase the risk of mudslides. Rains after the 416 Fire caused multiple mudslides that closed parts of US 550 for several days.
How many buildings were destroyed in the Missionary Ridge fire?
Durango, the largest city in southwest Colorado and the La Plata County seat, was no stranger to devastating fires; in 2002 the Missionary Ridge Fire scorched about 73,000 acres north of the city, killed one person, and destroyed eighty-three buildings.
When was the 416 fire?
The 416 was officially contained on July 31st and later controlled on October 5th. The Burn Area Emergency Response team (BAER) reported that over 98% of the fire burned on National Forest Service Land and less than 2% on private property.
Where did the 416 fire originate?
The name of the 416 Fire originated as it was the 416th incident call for the San Juan National Forest received by the Columbine Ranger District in Bayfield, Colorado in the spring of 2018.
How many acres were burned in the Missionary Ridge fire?
For many living and working in Southwest Colorado near Durango, the 416 Fire brought back memories of the Missionary Ridge Fire, which burned over 70,000 acres in 2002. Missionary Ridge Fire, 2002. Photo: The Durango Herald.
How many acres did the Colorado fire burn?
In June of 2018, a fire ignited in Southwest Colorado that would eventually burn 54,130 acres. The fire and smoke negatively impacted livelihoods, homeowners, and tourism and caused dramatic changes to forests and downstream waters that persist years after its last ember was contained.
What does the increase in fuels from a policy of fire suppression mean?
For forests historically adapted to frequent fire, the increase in fuels from a policy of fire suppression means fires burn hotter with more severe effects to vegetation, soils, watersheds, and wildlife.
Is a fire worse in the short term?
Fires are likely to be worse in the short term, but lack of recovery results in fuel-limited systems and decreased fire risk in the long term. Higher temperatures mean decreased levels of spring snow and earlier snowmelt, increasing the risk of flooding and duration of wildfires.
Did the 416 fire take lives?
While both The Missionary and 416 fires occurred during drought years with extremely low snowpack, high temperatures, and extended fire seasons, the 416 Fire did not take lives or burn homes.
How long did the 416 fire last?
The 416 fire quickly spread into the sixth-largest wildfire in Colorado history. The flames triggered thousands of evacuations, caused millions of dollars in damage to the local economy and shut down the San Juan National Forest for the first time in its 113-year history. Firefighters battled the blaze for two months before it was fully contained at the end of July.
Where did the 416 fire start?
Cres Fleming makes his way up a portion of a steep hill along the Durango & Silverton Railroad tracks where he says the 416 fire started on July 10, 2018 near Hermosa , Colorado. A coal-fired train operated by Durango’s historic railroad spewed hot cinders that morphed last summer into the 416 wildfire, destroying 54,000 acres, ...
How many acres were destroyed by the Durango fire?
A coal-fired train operated by Durango’s historic railroad spewed hot cinders that morphed last summer into the 416 wildfire, destroying 54,000 acres, crippling the local tourism economy and costing the U.S. government about $25 million to extinguish, a federal lawsuit contends.
How did the fire on the train start?
Federal fire investigators determined the June 2018 fire was ignited by burning particles emitted from an exhaust stack on one of the train’s iconic coal-burning engine locomotives, the complaint said.
How many acres were burned in the 426 fire?
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against a railroad company for starting what became the 54,129-acre “426 Fire” north of Durango, Colorado. The government is seeking to recover $25 million in suppression, damages, and rehab costs for the fire that started June 1, 2018 and burned actively for about 61 days.
Who was the second person on scene at the 416 fire?
The video below is an interview with Cres Fleming who was the second person on scene at the 416 Fire June 1, 2018.
What happened to the Durango fire?
In September, 2018 at least six local residents and business owners in the Durango, Colorado area filed a lawsuit against the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Company claiming the 416 Fire adversely affected tourism , causing a 5.6 percent drop in sales tax and a 13.2 percent drop in lodgers tax over the same period in 2017.
How many fires did the Durango train cause?
Numerous fires have been attributed to the train. The Durango Herald studied seven of the fires that burned between 1994 and 2013 that investigators determined were started by the train. In these cases the railroad offered to pay much less than the amount billed by the Forest Service. The agency settled with the company, agreeing to allow payments of between 20 and 88 percent for the seven fires, averaging 53 percent of the billed amounts.
How did the Durango fire start?
Forest Service determined that the fire was ignited by burning particles emitted from the exhaust on a coal-burning steam engine locomotive owned and operated by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and its owner and operator, American Heritage Railways, Inc.
Who interviewed the 416 fire commander?
Screen grab from a video by Bill Gabbert. As Mr. Pechota’s time on the 416 Fire wound down, Alex Semadeni , a writer for the Durango Herald, interviewed the Incident Commander. Below is an excerpt: “We were playing a bit of a tough hand based on weather and topography and fuels,” Pechota said.
Why were fire crews unable to put down the fire?
Fire crews “were unable to put down the fire because they were insufficiently trained by the defendant and/or because the firefighting equipment provided on the pop car was wholly insufficient to appropriately respond to the fire,” attorneys wrote in the lawsuit.
How many acres were burned in the 416 fire?
The 416 Fire is estimated to have burned over 23,000 acres, and is 15 percent contained.
Where does the 416 come from?
The answer actually isn't all that exciting. The number 416 comes from the number of incidents that the Columbine Ranger District has responded to in the San Juan National Forest.
Is the 416 fire still burning?
The 416 fire is still burning, causing hundreds of homes to be evacuated.
Where is the 416 fire?
The 416 Fire started on June 1, 2018 approximately 13 miles north of Durango, Colorado. The majority of the fire is on the San Juan National Forest in the Hermosa Special Management Area and Hermosa Wilderness. While total containment of the 416 Fire had not occurred, a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment was initiated in late June as the flooding and debris flow from the rains could pose significant threats to roads, trails, homes and private property within and downstream of the fire. After the initial assessment, an additional 19,738 acres for a total of 54,130 acres burned on the 416 Fire and interim BAER assessment addressed the additional acres and identified risks to public safety and infrastructure that may result.
What type of soil was used in the 416 fire?
SOILS An estimated 33 % of the area within the 416 Fire perimeter had high or moderate SBS and may have developed water repellent soils as a result of the fire. Water repellent soils develop when organic material (dead plant debris) on the soil surface burns during a fire, releasing waxy substances that coat soil particles—basically “shrink -wrapping” the soil and filling in the pores that would normally allow water to soak in during rain events. When water can’t infiltrate into the soil because the pores are blocked, water runs over the surface causing erosion and increased flood potential.
What is a VAR in a fire?
The BAER team identifies ‘Values at Risk ’ (VAR) which include human life and safety, infrastructure, private property, natural resources, and cultural resources. The team develops a Soil Burn Severity (SBS) map to document the degree to which soil properties changed as a result of the fire within the burned area. Fire damaged soils have low strength, high root mortality, and increased rates of water runoff and erosion. Using the SBS map, BAER team members run models to estimate changes in stream flow and debris flow potential. The models compare pre-fire conditions to predicted post-fire conditions to determine relative changes as a result of the fire. These models are then used to determine the relative risk to different VAR’s, and are used to make recommendations to address high risk areas determined to be an emergency. Modelling results are not intended for site specific actions such as sizing culverts or mitigating a specific area, but rather to identify areas of high to moderate probability of flooding or debris flow.
What are the consequences of burning logs?
GEOLOGY Debris flows from burned logs are among the most hazardous consequences of rainfall on burned hillslopes. Debris flows pose a hazard distinct from other sediment-laden flows because of their unique destructive power. Debris flows can occur with little warning and can exert great impulsive loads on objects in their paths. Even small debris flows can strip vegetation, block drainage ways, damage structures, and endanger human life. Additionally, sediment delivery from debris flows can “bulk” the volume of flood flows, creating an even greater downstream flooding hazard. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) used the SBS map in their modeling to predict risk of debris flows (Figure 3). Debris flows are likely in the upper Hermosa drainage, but will likely dissipate within the low gradient Hermosa Creek channel. The results of the USGS debris flow modelling effort will be available at:
How does wildfire affect fisheries?
Fisheries Changes in supplies of water and sediment are commonly observed after wildfire. The increase in sediment can reduce macroinvertebrate populations, reduce spawning areas, negatively affect trout
What is the role of duff and litter in the fire?
HYDROLOGY Prior to the fire, the surface duff and litter acted as a ‘sponge’ that naturally absorbed water during rainfall events and promoted infiltration into the soils. Post-fire, the loss of the surface cover in combination with newly created water repellent soils results in increased flooding, particularly downstream of areas of high and moderate soil burn severity. Relative increases in flood flows for after summer thunderstorms for selected watersheds are displayed in Figure 2.
What are the impacts of the San Juan National Forest?
Impacts include damage to the road and/or loss of access due to severe erosion of the road surface, or deposition of sediment or debris. Roads within the burned area are also likely to exacerbate the risk of flooding and erosion by collecting surface water, concentrating it and delivering it to hillslopes or stream channels. Most of the roads within the burned area have inadequate cross-drainage for anticipated post wildfire flows.
