Colorado
Infrared Imagery Shows Growth of Colorado's Quarry Fire
A multi-mission aircraft captured infrared footage of the Quarry Fire as it burned in hills just west of the greater Denver area on July 31.
The Quarry Fire broke out near the Alexander Mountain Fire and the Stone Canyon Fire.
Officials said resources were thin due to this earlier fire activity.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said the fire had burned 341 acres Wednesday evening. Credit: Jefferson County Sheriff via Storyful
Video transcript
5928.
July 31st for fire, mostly South and southwest community towards the east side of the fire.
5928, July 31st for fire, mostly south and southwest community towards the east side of the fire.
5928, July 31st co fire mostly south and southwest community towards the east side of the fire.
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Colorado
Colorado Springs Airtanker Base helps keep planes in the air and in the fight against wildfires | KRDO
![Colorado Springs Airtanker Base helps keep planes in the air and in the fight against wildfires | KRDO Colorado Springs Airtanker Base helps keep planes in the air and in the fight against wildfires | KRDO](https://krdo.b-cdn.net/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-31T215539.334.jpg)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Helicopters and air tankers are a crucial tool in fighting Colorado’s wildfires.
Four wildfires are currently burning in northern Colorado and aircraft have been a huge part of the fight against the fires that have already burned thousands of acres and claimed one life.
The Colorado Springs Airtanker Base has been helping keep those planes and helicopters in the air. Wednesday, crews battled the heat and were mixing retardant and fueling planes all day.
The Colorado Springs base is the largest of the four around the state and has four fueling pits. The base can also accommodate the largest aircraft, known as V-Lats or Very Large Airtankers.
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Colorado
Proposed Colorado ban on hunting of mountain lions, other wild cats makes November ballot
![Proposed Colorado ban on hunting of mountain lions, other wild cats makes November ballot Proposed Colorado ban on hunting of mountain lions, other wild cats makes November ballot](https://www.denverpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/CDC-L-MOUNTAINLION_MJ28938-1.jpg?w=1024&h=748)
An initiative that would ban the hunting and commercial trapping of mountain lions and other wild cats will be on the statewide ballot in November.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office said Wednesday that the measure backed by wildlife advocates had garnered more than enough signatures to qualify for the Nov. 5 election.
Backers turned in 187,147 signatures. Election officials determined there were more valid signatures of registered voters than the 124,238 required. The proposal, organized by a coalition called Cats Aren’t Trophies, would outlaw what it calls trophy hunting.
The coalition includes wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers. Its members want to prohibit the hunting and trapping of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx. Exceptions would include killing an animal to protect people and livestock, the accidental wounding of a cat, actions by authorized wildlife officers and scientific research activities.
“Colorado voters will have an opportunity to halt the inhumane and needless killing of mountain lions and bobcats for their heads and beautiful fur coats,” Samantha Miller, the Cats Aren’t Trophies campaign manager and a Grand County resident, wrote in an email.
The ban’s supporters say mountain lions aren’t killed for meat, unlike deer, elk and other wildlife.
“While the measure stops the recreational trophy hunting and commercial fur trapping of wild cats, it allows lethal removal of any problem animal for the safety of people, pets, or farm and ranch animals,” Miller added.
But opponents argue state wildlife biologists are better equipped to manage mountain lion populations.
“We are disappointed to learn that the required signature level was reached,” said Suzanne O’Neill the executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation, in an email. “This is another instance of ballot-box biology presented to the voters. It aims to take away Colorado Parks and Wildlife expertise and (the agency’s) extensive experience in applying science-based wildlife management as to mountain lions and bobcats.”
Opponents of the proposed hunting ban made similar arguments about returning wolves to Colorado. The state’s voters in 2020 narrowly passed an initiative mandating the release of wolves in Colorado to bring back the animal that was wiped out in the state due to hunting.
CPW started releasing wolves in northern and northwest Colorado in late 2023. Since then, the wolves have roamed and run afoul of ranchers whose livestock has been killed.
Last year, state wildlife officials estimated Colorado’s mountain lion population at 3,000 to 7,000. They said hunters kill hundreds of mountain lions and bobcats every year.
While the initiative’s ban would cover lynx, that cat — which was restored to Colorado after a long absence — is protected under both state and federal law. Miller said if the measure became law, it would continue to protect lynx regardless of its status under endangered species regulations.
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Colorado
Colorado wildfire updates: Hundreds of homes evacuated after fire sparks near Jefferson County’s Deer Creek Canyon
![Colorado wildfire updates: Hundreds of homes evacuated after fire sparks near Jefferson County’s Deer Creek Canyon Colorado wildfire updates: Hundreds of homes evacuated after fire sparks near Jefferson County’s Deer Creek Canyon](https://www.denverpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/jefferson-county-fire.jpg?w=1024&h=768)
Nearly 600 homes in Jefferson County were evacuated overnight Wednesday after a wildfire broke out near Deer Creek Canyon, sheriff’s officials said.
As of 1 a.m. Wednesday, the Quarry fire was burning on 100 acres of Jefferson County land just west of Grizzly Drive and still growing, according to the sheriff’s office. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Evacuations started just before midnight Tuesday when sheriff’s officials announced mandatory evacuations for the Deer Creek Mesa, Sampson and Maxwell subdivisions southwest of Ken Caryl.
County officials said the fire was discovered by a sheriff’s deputy around 9 p.m. and was moving southeast.
By 1 a.m. Wednesday, 300 homes in the three subdivisions were being evacuated as deputies and firefighters knocked on doors and sent out emergency alerts, sheriff’s officials said.
As the fire continued to grow overnight, sheriff’s officials announced mandatory evacuations for another 275 homes in the McKinney and Murphy subdivisions.
Multiple agencies responded to the late-night blaze, including crews from West Metro Fire Rescue, South Metro Fire Rescue, Inter-Canyon Fire, the North Folk Fire Department and Jefferson County Open Space.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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