Interlaken fire near Twin Lakes grows to more than 500 acres

LAKE COUNTY, Colo. — The Interlaken Wildfire burning near Twin Lakes is 578 acres and 0% contained as of Thursday afternoon, according to the U.S. Forest Service's latest assessment.

The U.S. Forest Service expects the ground crew to be reinforced by Friday and has requested more resources.

Since the fire broke out Tuesday afternoon, there has been a constant buzzing sound above Brandon Oxendine's Buena Vista home.

“You can hear the helicopters flying overhead right now, heading over there,” Oxendine said.

Oxendine took several cellphone videos of the fire, which investigators believe was started by an abandoned campfire.

The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control said the Pike San Isabel National Forest, which is controlling the fire, ordered multiple air resources, including an air attack, a very large air tanker (VLAT), two large air tankers (LAT), a Type 1 helicopter and a Type 2 helicopter.

But one firefighting machine you won't see on the south side of Twin Lakes Reservoir is the state's Firehawk.

Colorado spent $24 million on this state-of-the-art helicopter in 2021, fully equipped to assist in firefighting efforts. However, three years later, the fire has still not been fought.

A spokesperson for the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control told Denver7 that closer available resources had been dispatched to the Interlaken fire, adding, “Training is the number one priority for this new active, but it is available for an initial attack on a case-by-case basis. “.

Meanwhile, 150 miles east at the county level, Douglas County is combining aviation resources and ground crews to fight fires.

“In an instant, this helicopter crew can be in the air, whether it's an open space in rural Douglas County, a U.S. Forest Service property, or in a greenbelt in the middle of Highlands Ranch,” Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said. .

Douglas County has committed $1.8 million to the county's 2024 wildfire aerial contracts to ensure air support is available through the end of November.

“Douglas County is the only county in the state that has a dedicated Helitack Air Crew that fights fires hard, heavy and fast,” said Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon.