Hinsdale County, Colorado · Wildfire
| Metric | Last report | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size |
7,404 acres Aug 13, 7:01 PM
|
7,374 acres
Aug 16, 6:01 AM
−30 acres
was 7,404 acres · Aug 13, 7:01 PM
|
−30 acres
in 2 days
|
| Containment |
33% Aug 11, 7:01 PM
|
35%
Aug 16, 6:01 AM
+2 percent
was 33% · Aug 11, 7:01 PM
|
+2 percent
in 4 days
|
| Crew size |
214 Aug 15, 7:01 PM
|
183
Aug 16, 6:01 AM
−31
was 214 · Aug 15, 7:01 PM
|
−31
in about 11 hours
|
| Money spent |
$20.6M Aug 15, 7:01 PM
|
$21.1M
Aug 16, 6:01 AM
+$525,281
was $20.6M · Aug 15, 7:01 PM
|
+$525,281
in about 11 hours
|
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The Elk Fire is a wildfire near Hinsdale County, Colorado. It has burned about 7,374 acres (about 6,000 football fields). Crews have boxed in 35% of its edge; the other 65% isn't contained yet. It was first reported about 5 weeks ago. About 183 people are on it, run by a Complex Incident Management Team. We're also tracking 2 other active fires within about 75 miles.
The size and containment above are current as of Sunday, August 16th at 6:01 a.m. CDT.
Hot, dry, and windy weather can help a fire grow; cool, calm, or wet weather helps crews. The tags below rate each day for fire spread — green is calm, red can push a fire.
A general fire-weather guide (wind matters most, then how dry it is, then heat), not a prediction of what this fire will do.
Overnight
42°F · Mostly Clear
Wind 5 mph SSW · 0% chance of rain
Sunday
61°F · Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind 5 to 10 mph NNE · 11% chance of rain
Sunday Night
45°F · Mostly Cloudy
Wind 5 to 10 mph WSW · 2% chance of rain
Monday
61°F · Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind 5 to 10 mph W · 21% chance of rain
Monday Night
46°F · Mostly Clear
Wind 10 mph WSW · 2% chance of rain
Forecast from the National Weather Service (weather.gov), pulled Sunday, August 16th at 6:01 a.m. CDT.
About 183 people are assigned to this fire, run by a Complex Incident Management Team. The government rates it a Type 2 Incident. About $21 million has been spent on it so far.
The official feed reports the total headcount, not a breakdown by crew type.
We show the daily official picture. For minute-by-minute updates, evacuation orders, and maps, these do it best:
Within about 75 miles we're tracking 2 other active fires, closest first:
Fighting fire is a job you can get
Wildland firefighting is an entry-level job. You start with no experience and no college degree, and one season pays more than most summer internships.
Most crews hire in fall and winter for the next summer, when more jobs open up.
Colorado has 2 of these jobs open right now.
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