Grizzly Creek Fire

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The Grizzly Creek Fire, which was first called the 120 Fire, was first reported around 1:30 PM on August 10, burning in Glenwood Canyon one mile east of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Fueled by hot, dry, windy weather, the fire began spreading in multiple directions.{{cite web |date=August 11, 2020 |title=Winds and terrain challenge Grizzly Creek Fire efforts |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53123/ |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812204038/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53123/ |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020 |website=InciWeb}} Witnesses to the fire at its start included people rafting through the canyon and a Colorado Department of Transportation employee who tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher.{{cite news |last1=Sanchez |first1=Hayley |title=Grizzly Creek Fire On I-70 In Glenwood Canyon Forces Residents To Evacuate |url=https://www.cpr.org/2020/08/11/grizzly-creek-colorado-wildfire-august-11-i70-glenwood-canyon-evacuations/ |publisher=Colorado Public Radio |date=August 12, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} Its growth towards Interstate 70 resulted in the interstate's closure from Glenwood Springs to Gypsum. By August 12, the fire had crossed both the interstate and the Colorado River.{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire grows, additional resources arriving |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53130/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 12, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} The power plant at the Shoshone Generating Station was evacuated, along with the communities of No Name, Lookout Mountain,This refers to a community and not the landscape feature Lookout Mountain (Colorado), which is over 100 miles away. and Coulter Creek. The Glenwood Springs Community Center was named an evacuation point to connect evacuees with services and Battle Mountain High School was named an evacuation center.{{cite news |last1=Osberger |first1=Madeleine |title=Grizzly Creek Fire grows to 3,200 acres with no containment |url=https://www.aspendailynews.com/news/glenwood-canyon-fire-impacts-felt-across-the-western-slope/article_9baa7922-db7e-11ea-90aa-8ba3e817cb77.html |work=Aspen Daily News |date=August 10, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}}{{cite news |title=Colorado Wildfire Weekend Updates For Aug. 15-16: Evacuations, Closures, Size |url=https://www.cpr.org/2020/08/15/colorado-wildfire-updates-2020-evacuations-closures-size/ |publisher=Colorado Public Radio |date=August 15, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} Local roads in the area were also closed, as well as portions of Bureau of Land Management-managed land and portions of White River National Forest.{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire Area Closure |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53114/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 11, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} Air support was immediately brought in due to the fire's hard-to-reach location in the canyon.

The fire grew rapidly with Red Flag winds and by the morning of August 13 it spread east towards Bair Ranch and southeast into Devil's Hole Canyon and doubled in size from {{convert|6,251|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|13,441|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}}. It was one percent contained. Highway 82 was closed at Independence Pass due to excessive traffic and accidents resulting from drivers using rural, rugged dirt roads as alternatives to Interstate 70, which remained closed.{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Taylor |last2=Sakas |first2=Michael Elizabeth |title=Glenwood Springs Businesses Hunker Down As Grizzly Creek Fire Grows Rapidly |url=https://www.cpr.org/2020/08/13/grizzly-creek-fire-glenwood-springs-businesses/ |publisher=Colorado Public Radio |date=August 13, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire August 14, 2020 Update |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53196/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 14, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} The next day, on August 14, the Bureau of Land Management closed recreational sites and boat ramps around the southern part of the Colorado River near Dotsero.{{cite web |title=New BLM Closures on the Colorado River in Eagle County |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53200/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 14, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} The fire spotted across Coffee Pot Rd. on August 15, with crews catching the spot fire before it could spread. The fire did continue towards Bair Ranch, with dozer lines being put in place to protect the core of the ranch.{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire August 16, 2020 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53250/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 16, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} Air quality health advisories were put in place for areas east of the fire.

Due to the fire's location near infrastructure, residences and its potential impact on the environment, Burned Area Emergency Response teams arrived early on the scene, on August 19. That same day, it was reported that the Shoshone Hydroelectric Power Plant's service was interrupted by downed transmission lines.{{cite news |last1=Blevins |first1=Jason |last2=Brown |first2=Jennifer |title=The Grizzly Creek fire is threatening the Colorado River and water for the entire West |url=https://coloradosun.com/2020/08/19/grizzly-creek-fire-threatening-colorado-river-western-water/ |work=The Colorado Sun |date=August 19, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}}

On August 20, evacuation orders were downgraded for residents in the Buck Point area.{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire Update 8.20.20 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53476/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 20, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} The next day, containment was achieved from Coffee Pot Road to I-70.{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire Update 8.22.20 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53645/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 22, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} That same day, it was announced that Dan Gibbs, the head of Colorado's Department of Natural Resources and a wildland firefighter was fighting the fire near Glenwood Springs.{{cite news |title=Colorado Wildfire Updates For Aug. 20: Maps, Evacuations, Closures, Fire Growth And More |url=https://www.cpr.org/2020/08/20/colorado-wildfire-updates-2020-evacuations-closures-size-4/ |publisher=Colorado Public Radio |accessdate=September 1, 2020}}

I-70 was reopened the morning of August 24.{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire Daily Update 8.24.20 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53861/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 24, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020 }} Later that day, a flare up along the interstate resulted in a second, temporary closure while helicopters quelled the flare up with water drops.{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire Update 8.25.20 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/53948/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 25, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} By August 26, the fire was 61 percent contained at {{convert|32,060|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire Update 8.26.20 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/54041/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 26, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}}

Containment continued to grow and suppression work began in impacted areas, including on Coffee Pot Rd.{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire Update 8.28.20 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/54234/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 28, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} On the afternoon of August 30, a storm generated wind gusts of 40 MPH, resulting in crews being pulled from fire lines.{{cite web |title=Grizzly Creek Fire Update 8.31.20 |url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/6942/54556/ |website=InciWeb |date=August 31, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} The fire was determined to be human caused, with further investigation required to determine specificities.

The Grizzly Creek Fire has impacted infrastructure, transportation and recreational activities in the area, including in White River National Forest.

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The Grizzly Creek Fire caused a section of I-70 between Glenwood Springs and Gypsum in Glenwood Canyon to be closed on August 10, 2020. It was reopened by CDOT the morning of August 24, 2020.{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=August 11, 2020 |title=I-70 closed in western Colorado because of new wildfire |url=https://durangoherald.com/articles/334946 |website=Durango Herald |accessdate=2020-08-14}} Local roads were also closed in the area, including Highway 82 which passes over Independence Pass.

The communities of No Name, Lookout Mountain and Coulter Creek were evacuated and the Glenwood Springs Community Center served as an evacuation point. Portions of White River National Forest were also closed, including Glenwood Canyon.

A Union Pacific Railroad passenger and freight line was closed in the area after debris falling caused a rock pile to form on the tracks.{{cite news |last1=Stroud |first1=John |title=Grizzly Creek Fire at 25,690 acres, 0% containment; crews work to limit fire's eastward spread |url=https://www.postindependent.com/news/crews-work-to-limit-grizzly-creek-fires-eastward-spread/ |work=Post Independent |date=August 16, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}} Train travel resumed by August 22.{{cite news |last1=LaConte |first1=John |title=Grizzly Creek Fire crews turning over management, expecting more containment soon |url=https://www.postindependent.com/news/grizzly-creek-fire-crews-turning-over-management-expecting-more-containment-soon/ |work=Post Independent |date=August 22, 2020 |accessdate=September 1, 2020}}

Nearly a year later, the I-70 in Glenwood Canyon was closed again, due to debris flows from the fire damage.{{cite web |title=Canyon Closure Impacts Lake County |url=https://www.leadvilletoday.com/2021/07/30/canyon-closure-impacts-lake-county/ |website=Leadville Today |archive-date= August 1, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210801140832/https://www.leadvilletoday.com/2021/07/30/canyon-closure-impacts-lake-county/ |date=July 30, 2021 |quote=This stretch of interstate continues to experience severe impacts from debris flows along burn scars from the Grizzly Creek fire. |url-status=live}}

The closures and evacuations resulted in cancelations on hotel and resort rooms by visitors in Glenwood Springs, exacerbating economic challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the closure of Interstate 70 and other roads, local businesses were unable to keep groceries, pet food and other items in stock, resulting in empty shelves. There were also fuel shortages in the area.{{cite news |last1=Minor |first1=Nathaniel |title=It's Still Unclear When I-70, Closed By The Grizzly Creek Fire, Will Reopen. That's Wreaking Havoc On Businesses |url=https://www.cpr.org/2020/08/14/grizzly-creek-fire-i-70-closed/ |publisher=Colorado Public Radio |date=August 14, 2020|accessdate=September 1, 2020}}

The Shoshone hydroelectric power plant lost transmission lines, resulting in a service interruption.

The Colorado River's clarity was impacted with sediment from burned areas being carried into the river from rain. It will take an estimated five to seven years for the river's clarity to return to normal. The increased sediment will impact fishing, rafting and will increase rock slides. The river will begin to dilute where it meets the Roaring Fork River and sediment is expected to be found in Lake Powell.

On August 31, the US Forest Service confirmed that the fire was human-caused and that further investigation was required to determine the specific cause.

File:2020 08 12-11.43.18.042-CDT.jpg|Fire growing on the slopes south of the Colorado River on August 12

File:2020 08 14-14.21.58.198-CDT.jpg|Tanker dropping fire retardant on August 13

File:Grizzly Creek Fire - 8.14.20 a.jpg|Fire burning along the Colorado River on August 14

File:2020 08 14-16.27.07.411-CDT.jpg|Hand crews clearing brush to protect structures near Glenwood Springs

File:2020 08 23-09.29.09.854-CDT.jpg|Rock fall on Interstate 70

File:2020 08 23-10.15.39.801-CDT.jpg|Portable water tanks

File:Grizzly Creek Fire - 8.22.21.jpg|Signs of gratitude for firefighters in Eagle, Colorado.

File:2020 08 23-20.41.33.761-CDT.jpg|Grizzly Creek Fire burning in Glenwood Canyon on August 23

File:Grizzly Creek Fire - 8.23.20 d.jpg|The fire burning next to Interstate 70 on August 23

File:Grizzly Creek Fire - 8.29.20.jpg|Rainbow over the fire on August 30

• List of Colorado wildfires
• 2020 Colorado wildfires
• Pine Gulch Fire, a concurrent wildfire near Grand Junction, Colorado
• Cameron Peak Fire, a concurrent wildfire near Fort Collins, Colorado
• Lake Christine Fire wildfire in 2018, Roaring Fork Valley, Colorado

{{USGovernment|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6942/}}

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• [https://www.cpr.org/2020/08/17/locals-feel-great-loss-as-the-grizzly-creek-fire-blisters-glenwood-canyon/ "Locals Feel ‘Great Loss' As The Grizzly Creek Fire Blisters Glenwood Canyon"] from Colorado Public Radio
• [https://www.cpr.org/2020/08/23/after-the-grizzly-creek-wildfire-burns-through-glenwood-canyon-a-look-at-what-remains/ "After The Grizzly Creek Wildfire Burns Through Glenwood Canyon, A Look At What Remains"] from Colorado Public Radio

Category:Wildfires in Colorado

Category:Garfield County, Colorado

Category:August 2020 in the United States

Category:September 2020 in the United States

Category:Eagle County, Colorado

Category:2020 Colorado wildfires