Grand County handing out free sandbags to help prevent flooding from burn scar
Grand County residents receive sandbags ahead of more rain
and last updated 2021-05-03 20:06:31-04
GRAND COUNTY, Colo. â After a record-breaking wildfire in 2020, people living in Grand County need to prepare for something else this year: potential flooding. When a fire burns through a community, it burns up all the vegetation on the ground, said Alexis Kimbrough, deputy director of the county s office of emergency management.
Areas near the East Troublesome Fire burn scar are like concrete right now, and they can t soak up any water, she said.
Black Forest Fire
498 homes destroyed
The Black Forest Fire burned through a heavily-populated area surrounded by dense forest on the south end of the Palmer Divide.
Two people died, and the El Paso County Sheriff s Office counted 498 homes destroyed.
East Troublesome Fire
366 homes destroyed
The East Troublesome Fire started deep in the Arapaho National Forest on Oct. 14. Six days later, the fire started spreading dramatically, forcing evacuations in Grand Lake and eventually, all of Estes Park. More than 35,000 people were forced out of their homes.
From Oct. 21-22, the fire burned more than 87,000 acres through Grand County and across the Continental Divide. Drought, dead trees, high winds and low humidity fueled its rapid spread, even during the night.
After a record-setting year, here s everything to know about wildfire season in Colorado Allison Sylte
Replay Video
The length of the average wildfire season in Colorado has increased by 78 days since the 1970s.
While the state s main fire season is expected to begin in mid-May, officials have warned that wildfires that were once largely confined to summers and early fall will happen more and more.
“In 2021, we have already experienced fires, Gov. Jared Polis (D-Colorado) said. One of the things that is a change of paradigm is Colorado used to talk about a fire season. It’s now a year-round phenomena.
Here s a guide to what you need to know about wildfires in Colorado, the resources available and what s being done by the state to prevent them. > After a record-setting year for wildfires in Colorado, the communities hit hardest are just starting to rebuild. As fire survivors work through the recovery process and the landscapes we love are restored, 9NEWS is looking at how Colorado can make communities safer. We re examining the impacts of wildfire smoke on everyone s health, and how to help survivors cope with the hidden scars of last year. Colorado Wildfires: From Ashes to Action will air all month long on 9NEWS.
After a record-setting year, here s everything to know about wildfire season in Colorado Allison Sylte
Replay Video
The length of the average wildfire season in Colorado has increased by 78 days since the 1970s.
While the state s main fire season is expected to begin in mid-May, officials have warned that wildfires that were once largely confined to summers and early fall will happen more and more.
“In 2021, we have already experienced fires, Gov. Jared Polis (D-Colorado) said. One of the things that is a change of paradigm is Colorado used to talk about a fire season. It’s now a year-round phenomena.