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Melting snow from last week’s storm prevents growth on two Colorado fires

by Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post |

Colorado’s massive wildfires remained quiet Sunday, with no growth as snow from last week’s storm melts across the region.

The Cameron Peak Fire remained at 208,663 acres Sunday, or about 326 square miles, and is 64 percent contained. The East Troublesome Fire remained at 193,774 acres, or 303 square miles, and is 37 percent contained.

Firefighters along the East Troublesome Fire expect to see pockets of smoldering and heat, but no significant growth even as temperatures rise into the 50s and winds pick up Sunday, according to a morning update from fire officials.

Crews are working to identify and extinguish hotspots, and are reinforcing fire containment lines, according to the update.

Just to the north at the Cameron Peak fire, crews saw gusty winds Saturday that tested the fire containment lines, but the lines held, fire officials said, in part because of the wet and still-snowy conditions.

As the snow melts, firefighters have been able to get back into areas along the fire perimeter that were too snowy to access earlier this week, and are continuing to work in areas where the fire is still producing heat and smoke.

No significant fire growth was expected Sunday.