Single Publication

Interlaken Fire Update

June 15, 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: 592 acres     Containment: 15%     Total Personnel: 277

Community Meeting TODAY: 10am at Leadville Lake County Fire Station, 141 CR 10.

Current Situation: Containment on the Interlaken Fire is now 15%, with more expected in the coming days. Yesterday, firefighters took advantage of the cooler weather, and thus the moderated fire behavior, to continue building line right at the edge of the fire, making significant progress. In the north, in Div A, the fire keeps creeping slowly through the ground fuels, approaching the Interlaken Trail where firefighters will be able to utilize the trail as fireline. In Div Z, firefighters completed direct fireline along the entire SW edge of the fire. Today, firefighters in this area will improve and secure this line, and helicopters will bring “sling loads” of water pumps and hoses to assist with those efforts. Staff in Div D on the SE side continue building direct handline at the fire’s edge. On this east side, near the Div D and Div A break, the fire has burned into the edge of a previously prescribed burn from 2018 - the Flume Creek Prescribed Burn. The efficacy of this prescribed project has become extremely evident; it is acting as a holding feature and the fire has slowed or stopped in this area, allowing firefighters to gain direct access and help prevent spread toward communities to the east.   

A note on smoke: Impacts continue to be minimal near the Interlaken Fire. Winds and good atmospheric mixing are expected to loft smoke away from the surface on Saturday, resulting in minimal public health impacts. Light to moderate concentrations of smoke may linger in lower terrain in areas near Twin Lakes, particularly during the overnight and early morning hours. (https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colo_smoke.aspx) Visit https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/ for resources on smoke.

Weather: Sunny today, max temps 72F with humidity 16-21%. Winds will pick up again (from NW 4-8 mph then from W at 12 mph gusting to 22 mph.) There is a slight chance of afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Gusty and erratic winds expected near any thunderstorms after 3pm. Sunday will bring a return to hot, dry, windy conditions with humidity levels dropping below the critical 15% threshold. This could create critical fire weather conditions. 

Closures: Be aware that several trail, lot, and road closures are in place. As of 6-14-24, there is an official order from the Forest Service. Refer to the PSICC website and check under FIRE RESTRICTIONS AND FOREST ORDERS on the main page. See closure map here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1181393.pdf, and closure order here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1181392.pdf

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