The Forest Service closure map now shows the surface of Twin Lakes and recreation areas on the north side of the lake to be open again. Image courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service – PSICC National Forest Facebook Page.
As of Monday, June 24, the Interlaken Fire reached 100 percent containment at 704 acres with 84 personnel deployed. The U.S. Forest Service updated their closure maps, which now show the surface of Twin Lakes as open to recreation. The burned area remains closed until it is determined to be safe for the public.
Flames and smoke are visible just behind the historic buildings of Interlaken as the wildfire continues to burn on Thursday, June 13. Photo by Carly Winchell
A Spanish translation of the Forest Service order is available online. Una traducción al español de la orden está disponible aquí.
The Forest Service assembled a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team for the Interlaken Fire. The BAER team evaluates potential impacts to priorities at risk, including trails, roads, campgrounds, culverts, and heritage.
BAER’s assessment will include burn severity and debris flow maps, which will be shared with local officials and public utilities.
According to the Forest Service, “Information will determine if measures should be taken by the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands to protect forest resources and by the utilities and public officials to determine if those stakeholders need to take measures to protect public facilities.”
The Type 3 team thanks collaborators as they depart
A message was posted to the Interlaken Fire Information page from the Type 3 Incident Management Team assigned to the fire as they transition out of their role:
“The Type 3 Incident Management Team assigned to Interlaken Fire would like to express our deepest appreciation to the local agencies and businesses who helped support our efforts in suppressing the Interlaken Fire.
The Type 3 Incident Management Team assigned to Interlaken Fire. Image courtesy of the Interlaken Fire Information Facebook page.
Leadville/ Lake County Fire Rescue provided the use of their fire station to host a community meeting, office space, internet, and parking lot space to house all and parts of the incident command post throughout the incident; Lake County Sheriff’s Office offered expertise, security and traffic assistance; Lake County Office of Emergency Management provided their expertise, and information support; Lake County Search & Rescue transported firefighters by boat, and provide expertise; Bureau of Land Management Rocky Mountain District Law Enforcement Rangers provided security; Leadville Ranger District and Pike & San Isabel National Forest partnered to offer agency leadership, fire personnel, equipment, security, area knowledge, and area for expanded incident command post; U.S. Forest Service Mountain Zone Fire provided fire personnel, equipment, expertise, and area knowledge; Colorado Division of Prevention and Control provided fire personnel and equipment.
The Team realizes what impacts the activities related to fighting a local fire have on the local community. The Twin Lakes and Leadville communities have hosted us with grace and hospitality. It has truly been an honor to work alongside such talented group of individuals, and we sincerely thank each one of you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment on this incident.”
The management of the Interlaken Fire incident transitioned to a Type 4 organization on Tuesday, June 25.
Wildfires provide a reminder to all how important it is to recreate safely.
Just a few days after closures are lightened near Twin Lakes, the Forest Service has issued an updated closure order for the Oak Ridge Fire, which was first detected in the Wet Mountains on Saturday, June 22.
The smoke plume from the Interlaken Fire near Twin Lakes was visible from the archway property near downtown Buena Vista. Photo by Carly Winchell.
The Oak Ridge Fire was started by a lightning strike and is located three miles northwest of Beulah, Colorado.
It is 787 acres with zero percent containment. While this fire was started by natural causes, the Interlaken Fire occurred due to an improperly extinguished campfire.
The dangers wildfires pose, regardless of how they begin, serve as a reminder to all how important it is to take fire safety seriously while recreating.
“Please remember to practice campfire safety when you’re enjoying your fire pit at home or a campfire on public land,” stated the U.S. Forest Service PSICC National Forest. The Forest Service provides a variety of resources on its “Know Before You Go” webpage.
Ark Valley Voice covered the topic of recreating safely in our article, “Ask What Would Smokey Do.”
When it comes to campfires, everyone should remember these steps when they are planning to recreate:
- Check local fire restrictions with the campground, local sheriff, local fire department, or Forest Service.
- Check the weather. If it’s windy and dry, err on the side of caution and wait for things to calm down before starting a campfire.
- Use an existing fire ring.
- Clear potentially flammable vegetation and materials around the fire ring.
- Don’t use liquid accelerant.
- Keep fires small and manageable.
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The improperly managed fire that officials suspect started the Interlaken Fire near Twin Lakes on June 11, 2024. Image from the Interlaken Fire Information Facebook page.
Never leave a campfire unattended.
- Keep water and a shovel close at hand to extinguish any stray embers or if the fire gets out of control.
- If possible, allow the wood to burn completely to ash before extinguishing.
- Pour significant amounts of water on the fire until the hissing sound stops.
- Do not bury a fire. Roots can catch on fire and burn upwards.
- Mix the ashes and embers with the wet soil and scrape partially burnt wood to knock off embers.
- Add more water.
- Check to see if everything has cooled. If it’s hot to the touch, it’s too hot to leave.
- Add some more water just to be safe.
Cigarettes should be fully submerged in water and extinguished and should always be packed out. Use common sense, don’t flick cigarette ash into dry grass.
Fireworks that explode or leave the ground are illegal in Colorado. Again, those recreating should use common sense. A brief moment of fun with fireworks is not worth the loss of homes or lives in a wildfire.
Other Resources
There are many different resources available to those looking to recreate in a new area. Local fire departments will often have information specific to the area. Visitors are encouraged to reach out to the non-emergency numbers of local departments for information or to check local fire department websites.
For example, the Leadville/Lake County Fire Department provides a variety of resources on the city’s website.
The Forest Service provides wildfire prevention and safety tips for visitors.
Colorado Sun writer Parker Yamasaki covered how to have a backcountry campfire in 2023.
Firewise USA is another valuable resource. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) program allows communities that fit certain criteria to become a “Firewise Site.” Mount Harvard Estates and Game Trail in Buena Vista are both listed on their map of sites.
Colorado State Forest Service in conjunction with Colorado State University (CSU) provides resources, such as a list of fire bans in counties and parks and links to sites with information on current wildfires.
The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management provides information on fire restrictions, broken down by each county, park, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Office.
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