TWIN LAKES, Colo. — A wildfire that sparked Tuesday near Twin Lakes started with an abandoned campfire, fire officials said Wednesday evening.
The Interlaken Fire has burned 443 acres near the Interlaken Historic District on the south side of Twin Lakes, about 20 miles south of Leadville. It is zero percent contained. Those who are near Interlaken and County Road 25 are asked to evacuate, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.
Lost Canyon Road/County Road 30 and Balltown were under a pre-evacuation notice. The sheriff's office said just after 9 p.m. Tuesday that the pre-evacuation notice was lifted. The pre-evacuation notice was reinstated Wednesday morning for the Lost Canyon area and will last until further notice, the sheriff's office said.
The U.S. Forest Service said the fire was reported around 2 p.m. Tuesday and was burning through timber and heavy dead and down fuels. Wednesday evening, the Interlaken Fire Information Facebook page said it was determined that the fire had originated from an abandoned campfire located about 60 yards from the Interlaken trail and 1.5 miles from the trailhead.
Officials said they have no leads on who left the fire unattended. The Lake County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Forest Service are asking anyone with information regarding campers with a fire near the Interlaken Resort between June 7 and June 11 to call the tip line at 303-275-5266.
About 135 personnel were fighting the fire, supported by four helicopters and a fixed-wing air tanker that were dropping water and fire retardant. Firefighters on the ground were working to protect private property, Interlaken Historic District buildings, Canada lynx habitat and utility infrastructure.
The sheriff's office said Interlaken Historic District buildings were not currently threatened.
As of Tuesday evening, no injuries had been reported and no structures had been destroyed or damaged in the fire, the U.S. Forest Service said.
The sheriff's office said people recreating in the area were evacuated by first responders. Hikers at Interlaken were transported to safety in a search-and-rescue boat. There was no camping on the east side of Twin Lakes or around Interlaken trailhead. Willis Gulch trailhead was also closed.
Local farmers have been asked to prepare to evacuate their animals. J.R. Fearneyhough with Tenderfoot Farm in Twin Lakes primarily raises pigs but also has chickens, goats, ducks, donkeys and cows. He said he isn't worried the fire will reach the family farm.
"We are pretty safe. It would have to cross some roads, and we are well out of the trees down here."
The U.S. Forest Service said water access from Red Rooster was permitted, where Matt Franco and Asrah Waddy put their paddleboard in the water. The couple is from Colorado Springs and has spent a few days camping at Twin Peaks nearby.
“To me this is like chaos, this is kind of scary and sad because I don’t know what can be done, said Waddy. “I am sure they are doing the best that they can, but in a matter of seconds we have just watched this get worse.”
“This kind of takes away from that, right? We come to see this and now all we can stare at is the fire,” said Franco.
Emergency responders are asking people to avoid the area and refrain from calling dispatch with questions so that crews can work.
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