Single Publication

Interlaken Fire Update

June 14, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.  

Type 3 Incident Management Team

John Markalunas, Incident Commander 

Location: 7 miles S-SW of Leadville, Colorado         Date Reported: June 11, 2024 at 2:01pm    

Cause: Human caused       Size: 585 acres   Containment: 5%    Total Personnel: 214

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: There will be a COMMUNITY MEETING about the Interlaken Fire on Saturday, June 15, 10am at the Leadville Lake County Fire Station, 141 CR 10. Video uploaded after. Spanish interpretation available.

Current Situation: Yesterday, fire managers determined there is now 5% containment on the Interlaken Fire, on the NW edge. Late evening Thursday June 13th, there was some fire activity in the NW corner of the fire (“Div A” on the map,) and firefighters worked into the night to ensure successful protection of the historical structures. In Div A, on the north side of the fire, the terrain is steep and full of dead and down lodgepole. The fire is moving slowly through the underbrush in this area, backing down toward Interlaken Trail where firefighters can utilize the trail as fireline and take direct action at the edge of the fire where possible. On the W/SW side of the fire (Div Z on the map,) crews are building direct fireline, connecting it to the 399 Rd. More crews are arriving in this area today to continue building fireline along this W/SW edge of the fire. In Div D on the east side of the fire, more staff are arriving to construct fireline from the 399 Rd west to where Div D meets Div Z. The area where Divisions meet on the map is marked with a )( symbol. In this area, crews are also still gathering intel on locations of structures on private land. Local Search and Rescue crews are assisting firefighters by utilizing boats to bring supplies across the lake to the fire area, and more helicopters are arriving to the fire. Today, there will be two Type 1, two Type 2, and one Type 3 helicopter available for the Interlakan Fire. 

Weather: Today the fire area will be partly sunny with a max temperature of 69F and minimum humidity of 25-30%. Winds from the NW 3-10 mph, changing to W and increasing to 10-20. An approaching weather system will bring gusty winds and a chance for showers and thunderstorms to the fire area. Gusty outflow winds up to 45 mph will be possible near any thunderstorms. There could be brief heavy rain and possibly small hail. Thunderstorms should diminish Friday evening with dry and breezy conditions for Saturday. Visit https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/ for resources on smoke.

Closures: Be aware that several trail, lot, and road closures are in place: Interlaken trailhead and parking area, Willis Gulch trail, Willis Stump Trail, Sheep Gulch trail, Colorado Trail and Continental Divide National Scenic Trail segments in the Twin Lakes Area (from Clear Creek Road to State Route 82), Red Rooster day use area, Moache day use area, Dexter Point day use area and Campground, Deception Point day use, Forest Service Road 399, Forest Service Road 398 and dispersed camping around the lake. The surface area of Twin Lakes is closed. Dexter Point day use area is closed. 

Evacuations: Pre-evacuation notices are in place for the Lost Canyon (CR 30), and Chafee County areas north of CR 390 to the county line (Cache Creek, Clear Creek.) To sign up for emergency alerts in Lake County, visit: https://member.everbridge.net/892807736726383/login and in Chaffee County, https://member.everbridge.net/892807736725694/login

Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area. If you FLY, we CAN’T. Do not fly or operate drones in this area, as it will impede firefighting efforts and ground our aircraft.

Interlaken Fire INFORMATION

Fire Information Phoneline:  719-301-4284 (Time: 7am-7pm)                           Email: 2024.interlaken@firenet.gov

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560818226034 (“Interlaken Fire Information”)

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/copsf-interlaken-fire