By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
It is Déjà Vu all over again as smoke billowed high above Lake Maloya and Lake Dorothy Thursday and Friday as the lightning started East Fork Fire flared up and moved east and southeast fanned by thunderstorm winds on Thursday growing to over 500 acres.
Northerly winds Friday morning have pushed the fire in a southerly direction filling Raton with smoke reminiscent of the 2011 Track Fire. The concern on Friday is the fire would move far enough south to move into the Segerstrom Creek drainage which feeds directly into Lake Maloya. As a result of that possibility the City of Raton has asked residents to conserve water by not watering lawns or gardens. Raton is currently pulling as much water out of Eagle Nest lake that they can but are still dealing with silt filling the water intake at the pump station west of Cimarron.
When the fire flared up on Thursday Raton Fire and Emergency Services personnel as well as Colfax County Rapid Response deployed and took up a standby position to respond as needed when the fire moved closer to Lake Maloya. The city has also responded with a bulldozer to help build fire breaks and build roads as needed to help fire fighters fight the fire in very rugged terrain.
The fire began on August 22 with Hoehne Fire Department taking responsibility. The Colorado State Division of Fire Prevention and Control took active command of the fire this week. The fire effort was aided by Fisher’s Peak Fire, Piñon Canyon Fire, Spanish Peaks and Stonewall Fire Departments. Las Animas County Road and Bridge also provided a dozer to build fire breaks.
A controlled burn at the top of the canyon above the fire was used to help contain the fire which allowed officials to declare a 30% containment earlier this week. Phil Daniels with CDFP informed Raton City Manager Scott Berry that they would have an air tanker for the day on Friday and was hopeful they could make progress in the rough terrain. Daniels also noted that he felt the fire is a good kind of fire burning dead wood and other left-over debris from the Track Fire. While dry, the fuels in the area are green and the fire is not burning as rapidly as it could have had there been the big dry pine trees that we saw burst in flames during the Track Fire.
