The High Park fire burned over 87,284 acres (136.381 sq mi; 353.23 km2), becoming the third-largest fire in recorded Colorado history by area burned, after the Black Forest Fire of 2013.[5] It destroyed at least 259 homes, compared to the Black Forest Fire with a number of 511 houses.[6] surpassing the number consumed by the 2010 Fourmile Canyon fire. The High Park fire became the third most destructive fire in Colorado history, in terms of the number of houses burned,[5][7] but was surpassed about a week later by the Waldo Canyon fire.[8] Fixed-wing air tanker support to fight this fire was staged at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.[9] There is some controversy that local runways were intentionally made unusable, resulting in the staging of the fire fighting effort some 70 miles from the fire. The old Downtown Ft. Collins Airport was only 7 miles from the raging fire and easily could have been used had the owner allowed access to firefighting aircraft. Instead, the runway was blocked with old oil barrels, tires and other rubbish to prevent planes from landing there and the runway remains blocked with these items during the 2013 fire season. Over 2,000 firefighters fought this fire, along with 19 helicopters and five tanker planes.[1] Fighting the fire cost over $31.5 million.[1] It is estimated that using the local airport could have reduced flight times and fuel weight and increased water capacities and drop frequency, resulting in the fire being contained up to ten times more quickly and cost effectively.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Aug 2013 18:56:18 +0000
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