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Interlaken Wildfire: Cause, Impact, and Containment Update

An improperly extinguished campfire is believed to have sparked the June 11 Interlaken wildfire that burned over 400 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in less than 24 hours near Twin Lakes, Colo. Two helicopters and three fixed-wing aircraft worked the fire that day, dropping water and fire retardant on blaze. No structures were lost in the fire, although some of the 250 firefighters working the wildfire have staged at the area’s Interlaken historic district to protect the buildings there.

Flames from the Interlaken fire consume trees in the Pike-San Isabel National Forest June 11, 2024 near Twin Lakes, Colo. Investigators believe an abandoned campfire ignited the blaze. Photo by Mike Sweeney/©2024
Smoke from the Interlaken fire billows into the sky June 11, 2024 near Twin Lakes. Photo by Mike Sweeney©2024
A helicopter hauling a water bucket works the Interlaken fire June 11, 2024 near Twin Lakes. Photo by Mike Sweeney/©2024
A tanker drops a load of fire retardant on the Interlaken fire June 11, 2024 near Twin Lakes. Officials said the nearby Historic District buildings were not threatened by the blaze. Photo by Mike Sweeney/©2024

As of June 19 over 740 acres of Forest Service land have burned in the fire located seven miles southwest of Leadville, and its containment was at 86%.

MICHAEL SWEENEY PHOTOGRAPHY
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