Wildfire in Lefthand Canyon
Saturday, March 4th, 2006
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a fire in Lefthand Canyon, approxi-mately five miles northwest of
Boulder, at approximately 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Responding deputies and firefighters discovered the fire burning
on the north side of Lefthand Canyon, off Forest Service Road 286 B, in an area that is known as the “shooting park”
due to its popularity among recreational firearms enthusiasts.
Firefighters requested the assistance of a single-engine air tanker in suppressing the blaze. The air tanker made
three slurry drops, pretty effectively quelling the fire. Firefighters were left to dig a perimeter fire line and mop up
hot spots. The fire, which was confined to USFS property, consumed approximately 6.5 acres of brush, grassland, and a
few trees. No structures were threatened and there were no injuries reported. The fire was declared contained by 4:40
p.m. Lefthand Canyon Drive was closed between Olde Stage Road and James Canyon to facilitate fire-fighting operations.
In addition to the air tanker, approximately 60 firefighters from a half-dozen fire departments responded. The
agencies represented were the Lefthand Fire Protection District, the Four Mile Canyon Fire Protection District, the
Rocky Mountain Fire Authority, the Boulder Mountain Fire Authority, the Lyons Fire Protection District, the Boulder
Emergency Squad, Pridemark Paramedic Service, and the United States Forest Service. The American Red Cross provided
meals and water to the fire crews.
A witness reported that the fire may have been caused by a shooter in the area. Sheriff’s investigators are working
with USFS law enforcement authorities to verify that informa-tion and to identify the cause and any potential
suspect(s). The specific cause of the fire is unknown at this time, though it is clearly the result of human activity.
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