Colorado wildfire update: Ryan fire blows up, multiplies to more than 19000 acres

Several Colorado wildfires raged into the fall season with several growing bigger and more threatening under drought conditions.

Leading the advancing wildfires was the Ryan fire in north-central Colorado and Wyoming.

Over the weekend, it raced through beetle-kill forests, increasing its size more than sixfold to 19,328 acres.

An update on some of the largest active Colorado wildfires follows.

RYAN FIRE

The wildfire, which is 27 miles northwest of Walden, grew by 5,699 acres on Saturday and 10,643 acres on Sunday.

The cause of the fire, first spotted on Sept. 15, is under investigation.

Although the wildfire began in Colorado. it is now mostly in Wyoming. The fire is chewing up forest lands in a northeasterly direction, mostly through Wyoming.

The number of firefighters tasked to the blaze stands at 223, an increase that reflects its current higher priority.

SILVER CREEK FIRE

Although the fire grew by more than 5,000 acres over the weekend, fire crews were able to gain 50 percent containment over the weekend. The fire was at 35 percent containment on Friday.

The fire, about 16 miles northwest of Kremmling, is now 18,444 acres in size.

Firefighters successfully conducted burnout operations in the interior of the fire to minimize the chance for future flare-ups. This strategy eliminates fuels including unburned trees, brush and grass, creating a barrier in front of advancing fire. It’s also used to secure fire lines and increase perimeter containment, fire officials said.

The substantial increase in acres from the previous total is due in large part to the burnout operations. The firelines used were constructed along defensible topography containing lighter fuels, such as grass and sage instead of heavy timber.

BULL DRAW FIRE

The wildfire grew 2,642 acres over the weekend and is now at least 36,442 acres in size. It is now 70 percent contained.

Firefighters are dropping plastic balls the size of ping pong balls from helicopters to ignite on the ground.

The tactic is used to burn up bushes and trees in the interior of the fire between the main fire and fire lines to consume fuels and stop the growth of the fire.

The fire, about 12 miles northwest of Nucla, was sparked by lightning July 29.

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