Abandoned campfire sparked wildfire near Twin Lakes, USFS says

TWIN LAKES, Colo. — An abandoned campfire sparked a wildfire that burned more than 400 acres in the Twin Lakes area.

As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Interlaken Fire, burning 20 miles south of Leadville on the south side of Twin Lakes Reservoir, is 413 acres and 0 percent contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service. United.

In a Facebook post, the Forest Service said the fire originated from an abandoned campfire located about 200 feet from the Interlaken Trail and 1.5 miles from the trailhead. Investigators determined the camp fire had not been properly extinguished and was continuing to burn.

Investigators believe the campfire was abandoned several days before it was discovered Tuesday.

The U.S. Forest Service said it currently has no leads as to who left the fire unattended. Anyone with information about campers experiencing a fire near Interlaken Resort between Friday, June 7 and Tuesday, June 11 is asked to call 303-275-5266.

The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office said pre-evacuation advisories are in place for residents and visitors from Clear Creek Reservoir to Chaffee County at the Lake County line.

“This is only pre-evacuation notification at this time. Be prepared to leave if it becomes necessary. We will also send an emergency alert (Everbridge notification) to people in this area,” the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office said on social media.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office has lifted a pre-evacuation order for Balltown while Lost Canyon and Cache Creek remain under a pre-evacuation advisory.

“Please be aware that several trail and road closures are in effect at this time,” officials said on social media, including in the following areas:

• Interlaken Trailhead and Parking Area
• Willis Gulch Trail
• Sheep Gulch Trail
• Segments of the Colorado Trail in the Twin Lakes area
• Forest Service Road 399 and dispersed camping around the lake.

According to the Forest Service, camping is not allowed on the east side of Twin Lakes or near the Interlaken trailhead.

Twin Lakes, Colorado fire: video shows plume of smoke and helicopter response

U.S. Forest Service resources along with Lake County Search and Rescue, Vail Fire and the Chaffee County Fire Protection District responded to the wildfire.

A total of 135 people were fighting the fire, including helicopters and air tankers.

“Aerial resources continue to drop buckets of water and fire retardant on the fire to help minimize the spread of the fire,” the Forest Service said in a statement. “Firefighters work to protect a number of values ​​at risk, including private properties, historic Interlaken structures, Canada lynx habitat and utility infrastructure.”

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said structures in the Interlaken Historic District were not threatened Tuesday evening.

The Denver Fire Department's Wildland Team said crews head to Lake County to help fight the fire.