National Forest Service Press Release:

USDA forest service investigators have determined the probable cause of the 325 acre topaz fire in park County on the Pike & San Isabel national Forest to be a slash pile burn started by the Forest Service in December of last year (2001)

The area had been the site of a timber harvest and leftover slash (or Debris) was piled and burned. This is a standard practice to eliminate logging residue.

The South Park district has been monitoring the area both by air and ground observation as early as three days before (April 16th) the fire was spotted last Thursday. No smoke or other fire activity was visible during the monitoring.

We are extremely sorry to have caused this situation and, throughout the fire, have kept firefighter and public safety as our primary concern.

The area has only patches of snow this season with no uniform snow beds. The average snowfall for the area of the Topaz Fire is 4 to 5 feet at 11,000 and it's normally inaccessible until June. Now, the area has only about 6 inches of snow and none in the open areas.

Fire is 10% controlled. Officials hope to have containment by April 21st.
posted by Pinecamguy at 8:48 AM

Topaz Update: The fire apparently started from a slash pile that the forest service burned last December.

Somehow, the pile smoldered for four months until it erupted Thursday.

Winds picked up Friday afternoon and got the fire going again. 150 firefighters are on the scene, but the fire is 0 percent contained so far.
posted by Pinecamguy at 5:01 PM

Not much going on with the fire today..Colder weather helped
slow the fire.

About 150 firefighters were expected to arrive by late Friday to
handle the fire. It was moving
slowly to the northeast but did not threaten any homes.

Aerial tankers made three drops of retardant Thursday but could
not fly Friday because of clouds.
posted by Pinecamguy at 4:19 PM

As of 10 am the Topaz Mountain Fire is still burning but the fire officials said they will not have any more info about size etc. until they get aerial views at 11 a.m.
posted by Pinecamguy at 10:47 AM

The wildfire continues to burn northeast of Tarryall Reservoir.

Cool temperatures and higher humidities helped the fire "lay down" overnight.

The blaze has been dubbed the "Topaz Mountan Fire."

More fire crews were expected to arrive today to tackle the blaze.

Thank God for cold fronts. The change in the weather reminded me of the snow that started falling on the Thursday of the High Meadow Fire.

posted by Pinecamguy at 8:07 AM

More fire crews are expected to arrive today to help battle the fire. As of last night there were NO crews on the fire lines, due to the remoteness of the fire.

Air drops will resume today, weather permitting. Right now, we have overcast skies and I'm not sure how low the ceiling is.

Here are some stories on the fire:

Rocky Mountain News: Flames lead to evacuation

The Denver Channel - Firefighters Battling Three Wildfires

Denver Post.com - 2 new wildfires erupt in state
posted by Pinecamguy at 8:04 AM

Fire appears to be "laying down" somewhat. Two 20-person firefighting crews at battling the blaze, aided by air tankers. Other fire units are on standby along the Tarryall road, in case the fire shifts direction and heads towards homes in that area.
posted by Pinecamguy at 5:15 PM

Students at West Jeff have been picked up by parents. One student told 7NEWS that he could see flames from the fire on the horizon.
posted by Pinecamguy at 4:35 PM

Completely unrelated to the fire, but just in: Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, will deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2002 at the 44th U.S. Air Force Academy graduation beginning at 11 a.m., May 29, in Falcon Stadium.

This was just announced.
posted by Pinecamguy at 4:16 PM

Channel 9 interviewed an eyewitness who reported hearing a loud "explosion" and then driving to the fire. He speculated it "might have been a plane crash, or something" but that could not be confirmed.
posted by Pinecamguy at 4:03 PM

Airtanker making slurry drops on the fire.
posted by Pinecamguy at 3:59 PM

Click here for a map of where Topaz Fire is located.
posted by Pinecamguy at 3:49 PM

Fire command established on Park County Road 77 (road to Tarryall Reservoir) about halfway between Jefferson, Colorado and the reservoir.
posted by Pinecamguy at 3:39 PM

The Channel 7 Web site, http://www.thedenverchannel.com/ is livestreaming video recorded earlier from Aitracker 7.
posted by Pinecamguy at 3:19 PM

First airtanker spotted heading to the fire. Two more on the way, one from New Mexico.
posted by Pinecamguy at 3:05 PM

Channel 7's chopper pilot Rich Westra flew over the fire. TheDenverChannel.com has a slideshow of pictures from the chopper. Rich estimates the fire at more than 250 acres and spreading rapidly.
posted by Pinecamguy at 3:01 PM

The Jefferson County school system's Windy Peak Outdoor lab has been ordered evacuated. It is downwind of the fire. The students at the outdoor lab are from West Jeff and are being taken back to West Jeff Middle School in Aspen Park. They will be ready for pick-up by parents around 4 p.m.
posted by Pinecamguy at 2:18 PM

Smoke from the fire can be seen, in Pine Junction, but out of the view of Pinecam's camera. My wife, who is at home, can also smell smoke from the fire (the wind is blowing our direction).
posted by Pinecamguy at 1:56 PM

Thurs 1:45 p.m.: A wildfire is burning northeast of Tarryall Reservoir.

It has been dubbed the "Topaz Fire."

Unofficial reports are that the fire is fairly significant, about 150 acres.

It is reported about three miles northeast of Tarryall Reservoir, toward Bailey, near Topaz Mountain. This would put it on the west side of the Kenosha/Platte Canyon mountain ranges.

If you aren't familiar with the area, access is via a forest service road just past Kenosha Pass. The road leads to the Lost Creek campground.

Three air tankers and one attack plane are enroute, but high winds may prevent them from getting into the area.

posted by Pinecamguy at 1:04 PM

Colorado is launching a new drought and weather information Web site to help farmers and irrigators monitor the state's water supply.

The Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University's Web site can be accessed at http://ccc.atmos.colostate.edu.

The site includes daily updated snowpack data, drought planning information, water supply, stream flow forecasts and precipitation records.

March marked the seventh consecutive month of below-average snowfall and precipitation in the state.

April first marked Colorado's lowest snowpack percentage for that date in 25 years. Without more precipitation, irrigators in some areas could run out of water by July.

Colorado Climate Center Web site
posted by Pinecamguy at 1:54 PM