Planes, Helicopters Battle Quarry Wildfire in Jefferson County

A slurry air tanker was quickly chased by a helicopter with water to hit hot spots in Deer Creek Canyon on July 30. Evan Semón

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Colorado's Front Range is burning.

Two wildfires in northern Colorado, the Alexander Mountain fire in Larimer County and the Stone Canyon fire in Boulder County, began early this week and continue to grow; as of Thursday morning, August 1, they'd consumed 9,000 acres combined.

The Stone Canyon fire, located near Lyons, was at around 20 percent containment as of Thursday morning, while the Alexander Mountain fire, just west of Loveland, was at 1 percent containment. Meanwhile, another Boulder County fire started on July 31, prompting evacuations near Gross Reservoir. And more fires are popping up in other parts of the Front Range.

The Quarry fire in Jefferson County was reported sometime after 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, and has already prompted the evacuation of around 600 residents. The fire was discovered in Deer Creek Canyon by a sheriff's deputy, and the cause is still unknown.

The Quarry blaze had burned nearly 350 acres by Thursday morning; it's located in the most densely populated area of all the current Colorado wildfires. Residents who live in the five major subdivisions nearby were ordered to evacuate; an evacuation center has been set up at Dakota Ridge High School, 13399 West Coal Mine Avenue in Littleton.

An air tanker and helicopters were sent to the area with fire retardant and water tanks, but the Quarry fire remains at 0 percent containment, according to Jefferson County fire officials. Mark Techmeyer, public information officer for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, says that the open space and mountainous terrain has made firefighting efforts difficult. The area is full of scrub brush and rattlesnakes, he adds, making it tricky for firefighters to navigate on foot.

Westword photographer Evan Semón visited an area just outside of the Quarry fire yesterday to document the scene and firefighting efforts.

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The Quarry fire burned behind Heritage United Methodist Church in South Littleton on July 30.

Evan Semón

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Nonstop smoke bellowed from Deer Creek Canyon.

Evan Semón

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Chatfield Reservoir was used by helicopters to fill up with water to put out hot spots in the Quarry fire.

Evan Semón

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The blaze was met with nonstop water drops by helicopters during the afternoon, but the fire was still at 0 percent containment by Wednesday night.

Evan Semón

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Families along the Chatfield Reservoir cheered on helicopters after refilling with water.

Evan Semón

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Helicopters disappeared in and out of pillars of smoke while fighting the Quarry fire.

Evan Semón

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Photographers and onlookers gathered along Deer Creek Canyon Road to take a look at the Quarry fire.

Evan Semón

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A helicopter prepares to dump more water after an air tanker flies over Deer Creek Canyon.

Evan Semón