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416 Fire
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<h2 id="events">Events</h2> <h3>June</h3> <p>The 416 Fire started around 10:00 a.m. on June 1, 2018, approximately 10 miles (16 kilometres) north of <a href="/facts/Durango%2c_Colorado/53AlYGYI">Durango, Colorado</a> and west of <a href="/facts/U.S._Route_550/VAKwv4sk">Highway 550</a>, adjacent to the tracks for the historic <a href="/facts/Durango_and_Silverton_Narrow_Gauge_Railroad/MtASGJDD">Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad</a>. By the morning of June 2, the fire had expanded into the <a href="/facts/San_Juan_National_Forest/jbbnmJ41">San Juan National Forest</a> and had burned an estimated 1,100 acres (445 ha). The highway was closed between milemarkers 34 and 48 for public safety and to allow firefighters to keep the fire from crossing the highway. County Road 250 was also closed. Evacuation orders were put in place for residents of Baker's Bridge at County Road 250 north to Electra Lake Road, where 825 structures are threatened.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p><p>By the evening of June 3, the fire had grown to 2,255 acres (913 ha) and was 10 percent contained. It expanded <a href="/facts/Hermosa_Creek/l2jwWtBq">Hermosa Creek</a>, prompting officials to issue pre-evacuation orders to the community of Hermosa.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> The next day, the fire showed significant activity due to winds. Highway 550 was again closed due to heavy smoke and fire teams focused on building defensible spaces around buildings and using controlled burns as needed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> The fire is at 10 percent containment.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p><p>By June 5, new pre-evacuation orders were put in place for areas east of Hermosa due to southerly winds keeping the flames on the ridgeline on the slopes near the community. Temperatures were hotter than average and Forest Service personnel cited increased drought conditions as creating additional challenges.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> Crews continued to fight the fire using aerial support.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> </p><p>The Burro Fire began on the opposite side of the Hermosa Creek Wilderness Area on June 8.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> As of July 2, 2018 the fire had spread to within 10 miles (16 kilometres) of the 416 fire and burned over 4,000 acres (1,619 ha).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> </p><p>By June 29, the 416 fire had expanded to 41,617 acres (16,842 ha) and was 37 percent contained. The fire continued moving north, with crews clearing and chipping brush piles along the <a href="/facts/Durango_and_Silverton_Narrow_Gauge_Railroad/MtASGJDD">Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad</a>. Burnouts continued in the southwest in No Buck Creek.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> </p> <h3>July</h3> <p>By July 1, the fire had grown to 49,301 acres (19,951 ha) and was 37 percent contained. Temperatures enabled crews to focus on containment in the south and southwestern side of the fire, while northwest winds caused smokey conditions for communities along Highway 550, including <a href="/facts/Durango%2c_Colorado/53AlYGYI">Durango</a> and Hermosa Creek. Concerns about the fire impacting the <a href="/facts/Purgatory_Resort/sb1kEKYm">Purgatory Resort</a> were reduced, however hotshot crews remained in the area to protect the resort, if needed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> </p><p>The 416 Fire was declared fully contained on July 31, 2018, after burning 52,778 acres (21,358 ha) acres over 61 days. The Burro Fire was contained a day later, on Aug. 1, 2018. </p> <h2 id="impact">Impact</h2> <p>Over 1300 homes and businesses were forced to evacuate due to the fire.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> No structures were destroyed by the fire though businesses suffered economic losses due to closures and the impact on tourism. Homes and businesses were damaged later when heavy rains triggered floods in the burn areas.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> </p><p>The fire forced the closure of <a href="/facts/Purgatory_Resort/sb1kEKYm">Purgatory Ski Resort</a>, <a href="/facts/Durango_and_Silverton_Narrow_Gauge_Railroad/MtASGJDD">Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad</a>, and the <a href="/facts/San_Juan_National_Forest/jbbnmJ41">San Juan National Forest</a>, as well as sporadic closures of <a href="/facts/U.S._Route_550/VAKwv4sk">Highway 550</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30"><sup>30</sup></a> The town of <a href="/facts/Silverton%2c_Colorado/2X7hJp1x">Silverton</a> had to cancel their famed 4 July Fireworks, which brings thousands of visitors to the tiny mountain town. Railroad tourism regained operation in July with diesel locomotives and steam engine services to Silverton resume on July 17.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31"><sup>31</sup></a> Purgatory resumed its summer operations on July 2<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32"><sup>32</sup></a> </p><p>The July 4th cancellations and highway, rail, and trail closures have devastated the tourism industry of Silverton, and has had a substantial impact on the economies of Durango and elsewhere in southwest Colorado.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33"><sup>33</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34"><sup>34</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35"><sup>35</sup></a> </p><p>The <a href="/facts/Durango_and_Silverton_Narrow_Gauge_Railroad/MtASGJDD">Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad</a> has since converted most or all of its operating steam locomotives from burning coal to burning oil.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36"><sup>36</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li>United States portal</li><li>Colorado portal</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Spring_Creek_Fire_(2018)/Wo244FxP">Spring Creek Fire (2018)</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Lake_Christine_Fire/J8F9nxce">Lake Christine Fire</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Weston_Pass_Fire/rvW5bcFv">Weston Pass Fire</a></li></ul> <p> This article incorporates <a href="/facts/Copyright_status_of_works_by_the_federal_government_of_the_United_States/Q1jvr96g">public domain material</a> from websites or documents of the <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Agriculture/3PK2rx7C">United States Department of Agriculture</a>. </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li> Media related to 416 Fire at Wikimedia Commons</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Romeo, Jonathan (March 19, 2019). "416 Fire investigation taking 'longer than expected,' Forest Service says". The Durango Herald. Retrieved June 20, 2019. <a href="https://durangoherald.com/articles/268521" target="_blank">https://durangoherald.com/articles/268521</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Coming clean on cause of 416 Fire". The Durango Herald. Retrieved April 2, 2019. <a href="https://www.durangotelegraph.com/opinion/soap-box/coming-clean-on-cause-of-416-fire/" target="_blank">https://www.durangotelegraph.com/opinion/soap-box/coming-clean-on-cause-of-416-fire/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Durango residents sue historic train company, blaming it for starting devastating 416 wildfire". Denver Post. September 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2018/09/11/durango-silverton-railroad-416-fire-lawsuit/" target="_blank">https://www.denverpost.com/2018/09/11/durango-silverton-railroad-416-fire-lawsuit/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Burro Fire Information". InciWeb. USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5834/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5834/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"416 Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200109030045/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5822/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20200109030045/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5822/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Burro Fire Information". InciWeb. USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5834/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5834/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"416 Fire Information". InciWeb. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200109030045/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5822/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20200109030045/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5822/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"416 Fire grows to more than 51,000 acres, firefighting cost rises to $27 million". FOX31 Denver. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://kdvr.com/2018/06/30/416-fire-grows-costs-increase/" target="_blank">https://kdvr.com/2018/06/30/416-fire-grows-costs-increase/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Feds sue Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad seeking to recoup $25M in 416 Fire costs". Denver 7 TV. July 2, 2019. <a href="https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/feds-sue-durango-silverton-narrow-gauge-railroad-seeking-to-recoup-25m-in-416-fire-costs" target="_blank">https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/feds-sue-durango-silverton-narrow-gauge-railroad-seeking-to-recoup-25m-in-416-fire-costs</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to pay feds $20 million over 416 fire The Denver Post, March 21, 2022. <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2022/03/21/416-fire-settlement-durango-silverton-railroad/" target="_blank">https://www.denverpost.com/2022/03/21/416-fire-settlement-durango-silverton-railroad/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad agrees to settlements in 416 fire lawsuit The Gazette, March 31, 2022. <a href="https://gazette.com/news/durango-silverton-narrow-gauge-railroad-agrees-to-settlements-in-416-fire-lawsuit/article_419e0740-ac98-11ec-a616-ab524839a305.html" target="_blank">https://gazette.com/news/durango-silverton-narrow-gauge-railroad-agrees-to-settlements-in-416-fire-lawsuit/article_419e0740-ac98-11ec-a616-ab524839a305.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"State documenting financial losses from 416 Fire". The Durango Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://durangoherald.com/articles/229583" target="_blank">https://durangoherald.com/articles/229583</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Silverton cancels famed Fourth of July fireworks show". The Durango Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://durangoherald.com/articles/228339" target="_blank">https://durangoherald.com/articles/228339</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"416 Fire Update for June 2, 2018". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved June 5, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43050/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43050/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"416 Fire Update June 3, 2018 pm". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved June 5, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43076/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43076/</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>"416 Fire Update for June 4, 2018 pm". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved June 5, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43080/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43080/</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Miller, Blair (June 5, 2018). "416 Fire burning in southwest Colorado remains 10% contained at 2,400 acres". 7NEWS. Retrieved June 5, 2018. <a href="https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/wildfire/416-fire-burning-in-southwest-colorado-remains-10-contained-at-2-400-acres" target="_blank">https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/wildfire/416-fire-burning-in-southwest-colorado-remains-10-contained-at-2-400-acres</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"416 Fire Evening Update June 5, 2018". InciWeb. United States Forest Service. Retrieved June 6, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43102/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43102/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"June 27, 2018- Evening 416 Fire Update". InciWeb. Retrieved June 29, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43503/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43503/</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>"Burro Fire Information". InciWeb. USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5834/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5834/</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"June 27, 2018- Evening 416 Fire Update". InciWeb. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43503/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43503/</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>"Burro Fire Information". InciWeb. USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5834/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5834/</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>"June 29, 2018- 416 Fire Morning Update". InciWeb. Retrieved June 29, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43524/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43524/</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>"416 Fire Update". InciWeb. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018. <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43571/" target="_blank">https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5822/43571/</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>"1,300 homes evacuated as 416 fire north of Durango grows". The Denver Post. June 9, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2018/06/09/416-fire-wildfire-durango-june-9-weekend/" target="_blank">https://www.denverpost.com/2018/06/09/416-fire-wildfire-durango-june-9-weekend/</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>Kelly, David (August 7, 2019). "After a wildfire, a Colorado town's residents reluctantly sue a historic railway". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 7, 2019. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-08-06/after-wildfire-residents-reluctantly-sue-their-historic-railway" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-08-06/after-wildfire-residents-reluctantly-sue-their-historic-railway</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:27"><p>"CO Blaze Shuts Down San Juan National Forest". Firehouse. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180702233220/https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/wildland/news/21008878/san-juan-national-forest-closes-co-416-wildfire-grows" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20180702233220/https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/wildland/news/21008878/san-juan-national-forest-closes-co-416-wildfire-grows</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:28"><p>"Current Fire Information and Updates". www.durango.org. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180702204604/https://www.durango.org/current-fire-information-and-updates/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20180702204604/https://www.durango.org/current-fire-information-and-updates/</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:29"><p>"More Narrow Gauge Railroad rides canceled as fire burns near Durango". The Know. June 5, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://theknow.denverpost.com/2018/06/05/durango-and-silverton-narrow-gauge-railroad-2018-fire-cancelations/186507/" target="_blank">https://theknow.denverpost.com/2018/06/05/durango-and-silverton-narrow-gauge-railroad-2018-fire-cancelations/186507/</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:30"><p>"US 550 Closed North of Durango Due to "The 416 Fire"". Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://www.codot.gov/news/2018/june/us-550-closed-north-of-durango-due-to-the-416-fire" target="_blank">https://www.codot.gov/news/2018/june/us-550-closed-north-of-durango-due-to-the-416-fire</a> <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:31"><p>"Current Fire Information and Updates". www.durango.org. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180702204604/https://www.durango.org/current-fire-information-and-updates/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20180702204604/https://www.durango.org/current-fire-information-and-updates/</a> <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:32"><p>"416 Fire: Purgatory resort to reopen, Durango area likely safe". The Daily Times. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/1191986/416-fire-purgatory-resort-to-reopen-durango-area-likely-safe.html" target="_blank">https://www.abqjournal.com/1191986/416-fire-purgatory-resort-to-reopen-durango-area-likely-safe.html</a> <a href="#fnref:32" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:33"><p>"State documenting financial losses from 416 Fire". The Durango Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://durangoherald.com/articles/229583" target="_blank">https://durangoherald.com/articles/229583</a> <a href="#fnref:33" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:34"><p>"Silverton cancels famed Fourth of July fireworks show". The Durango Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://durangoherald.com/articles/228339" target="_blank">https://durangoherald.com/articles/228339</a> <a href="#fnref:34" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:35"><p>"416 Fire affecting Durango, Silverton economy". KOB 4. Retrieved July 2, 2018. <a href="https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/416-fire-affecting-durango-silverton-economy/4942486/" target="_blank">https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/416-fire-affecting-durango-silverton-economy/4942486/</a> <a href="#fnref:35" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:36"><p>See various sources for individual locomotives' conversions in article about the railway. <a href="#fnref:36" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>