Abandoned campfire sparked Interlaken Fire still burning more than 400 acres near Twin Lakes

The Interlaken Fire, which has so far burned hundreds of acres near a historic landmark in Twin Lakes, was started by a camp fire that was not properly extinguished, according to the Service American forester.

As of Thursday morning, June 13, the latest information posted on the Interlaken Fire Information Facebook page indicated that the wildfire did not appear to have grown significantly overnight. A more detailed update is expected later this morning.

As of Wednesday evening, the fire is estimated to have grown to approximately 443 acres with 0% containment. That's about two-thirds of a square mile, or about half the size of New York's Central Park, at 843 acres.

A Forest Service fire investigator notified authorities of the human cause of the fire Wednesday afternoon, according to a news release from the Pike-San Isabel National Forest.

The fire was determined to have originated from an abandoned campfire located approximately 200 feet from the Interlaken Trail and 1.5 miles from the trailhead. The camp fire was not properly extinguished and continued to burn – likely for several days, the release said.

Authorities currently have no leads as to who left the fire unattended. The Lake County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Forest Service are reportedly using a tip line to identify potential suspects. Anyone with information regarding campers experiencing a fire near Interlaken Resort between June 7 and 11 is asked to call the tip line at 303-275-5266.

The human cause of the Interlaken fire served as a reminder that as summer approaches, bringing hotter temperatures and drier conditions to Colorado's Rocky Mountains, nearly 85% of wildfires are caused by the man..

“Reminder: We are in wildfire season. This is our responsibility,” Summit Fire & EMS said in a Facebook post Wednesday. “Please be careful with all open flames and make sure your campfires – in your backyard or outback – are completely extinguished before leaving them, even for “a few minutes.” »

The Summit County Local Fire Protection District was among the teams responding to the Interlaken Fire, located just southwest of Leadville.

Never leave a warm-to-the-touch campfire unattended, even to fall asleep, according to the U.S. Forest Service. A fire doesn't go out completely until it's no longer hot to the touch.

To completely extinguish a fire, start by drowning the campfire with water. Next, mix the ashes and embers with soil and scrape away any partially burned sticks and logs to make sure there are no embers on them. Make sure everything is wet.

Touch the embers with your hand, including under rocks, to make sure there are no embers underneath. Everything, including the stone fire ring, should be cool to the touch. If not, repeat the steps: Drown it. Stir. Feel it.

Some of the largest and most devastating wildfires in Colorado history have been human caused.

Historically, wildfire “seasons” lasted four months in mid-summer. But compared to the 1970s, Colorado's wildfire season has increased by 78 days, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says human-caused climate change, including increased heat and prolonged droughts, has been a key factor in the increased risk and magnitude of wildfires in the West over the past two decades.