Updated 10/31/2003, 3:00pm
Officials are rapidly scaling back the scope of fire-fighting operations today, due to the greatly diminished
threat posed by the “Overland” fire, following two days of rain, sleet, and snow. Five fire engines and
approximately 20 firefighters remain on scene and are patrolling the fire perimeter. The overhead management team
assembled to coordinate fire-fighting efforts will be disbanding as of 6:00 p.m., with authority for incident
management reverting to local control at that time. The fire command post at Centennial Middle School is closing
this afternoon.
Two fire engines will continue to patrol the area, day and night, throughout the weekend, and potentially well
into next week until the fire is extinguished. Local fire officials will continually re-assess conditions and make
staffing decisions accordingly. Area residents should expect that the fire scene will continue to produce visible
plumes of smoke and steam for some days to come. If they observe a local “flare-up” with visible flames, they
should report it to the Sheriff’s Communications Center at #303/441-4444.
Lefthand Canyon, James Canyon, and Jamestown have been re-opened to the general public, however, County Roads 87
and 87J remain closed to all but residents with I.D.s Sheriff’s deputies will maintain the road closure throughout
the weekend, and extra patrols will be conducted by Sheriff’s deputies throughout the area affected by the fire.
Sheriff Joe Pelle plans to make supervised jail work crews available to those residents of the area needing
assistance with cleaning up after the fire. A sign-up will be posted at the Jamestown Community Center this evening.
Jail officials will coordinate scheduling crews with those requesting assistance.
Sheriff Pelle would like to express his personal appreciation to everyone who assisted with the suppression of
the fire, particularly the volunteer firefighters from all of the fire protection districts throughout Boulder
County, Colorado State Forest Service and United States Forest Service officials, emergency relief workers from the
Red Cross, volunteers from the Boulder Emergency Squad, the troopers of the Colorado State Patrol, the staff of the
City of Boulder’s Parks and Open Space, Boulder County’s Parks and Open Space personnel, and the Boulder County
Transportation Department’s road crews.
Sheriff Pelle would also like to recognize and thank the countless other members of the community who donated
food, equipment, and other resources to the fire-fighting effort, frequently anonymously and often at significant
personal expense… your generosity is truly appreciated.
Updated October 30th, 2003, 8:00pm
Sustained precipitation over the course of the day has led fire officials to declare the “Overland” fire
contained, but not controlled. If the present weather conditions prevail, officials hope to have the fire
controlled on Friday and extinguished by the weekend.
Nearly 270 firefighters and emergency personnel continued to combat the blaze on Thursday, aided by a light
snowfall overnight and a continued mixture of misting rain and light snow over the course of the day. Firefighters
have been pulled off the fire line this evening due to the freezing temperatures and potential for injury. They
will renew their efforts Friday morning.
Initial estimates are that the firefighting efforts have cost approximately $400,000.00 to date (through
Thursday afternoon). No estimate has been offered as to the total loss sustained. The estimate as to the total
acreage involved has been reduced to 3,500 acres (from yesterday’s estimate of 4,000-5,000 acres) as officials were
able to more accurately map the scene today. As previously reported, nine dwellings and two mobile homes were
destroyed in the fire; a tenth home sustained significant damage. No accurate count as to the number of outbuilding
or vehicles that were destroyed has been made.
A revised map, depicting the location and scope of the fire will accompany faxed copies of this press release.
Demobilization has begun. The emergency evacuation center at the Boulder County Fairgrounds has been closed, and
operations at the Fire Command Center at Centennial Middle School are being scaled back. Road closures in Lefthand
Canyon and James Canyon will remain in effect so long as firefighters require access for their vehicles and
equipment. Residents with I.D.’s are granted unlimited access to the area.
Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
Overland Fire status hotline for residents in the Jamestown area: 303-441-3938.
Sign up to be notified by email when a Press Release is posted to
the Sheriff's Office website.
Listen to the Overland Fire communications on the Sheriff's Office
on-line radio
Updated 11:30 am October 30th, 2003
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with United States Forest Service officials, will be
conducting an escorted tour of the areas devastated by the Overland Fire for the media Thursday afternoon, October
30th. Those interested in participating should meet at the Fire Command Center at Centennial Middle School,
19th/Norwood in Boulder, at 2:00 p.m. The Sheriff’s Office will provide transportation; no personal or corporate
media vehicles will be allowed to accompany the tour. Space is limited and credentialed media representatives will
be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour is expected to take approximately two hours.
Firefighting efforts continue and the fire is not deemed officially contained. The light snow that fell
overnight and the intermittent drizzle that has continued through the morn-ing hours have helped immeasurably, and
the fire is no longer spreading. Approximately 100 firefighters remain on scene and an additional 100 personnel are
expected to join the effort this afternoon.
The Sheriff has rescinded all evacuation orders and residents are being allowed to return to their homes.
Lefthand Canyon and James Canyon remain closed to all but emergency personnel and residents with I.D.s.
Sheriff’s deputies and personnel from the County Assessor’s Office continue to assess the damage. At present
count, nine residential structures and two mobiles homes have been destroyed, and a tenth home sustained
significant damage. The number of out-building and sheds that were destroyed has not been tallied. Several
vehicles, including two privately-owned road graders, were destroyed or damaged as well.
Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
Overland Fire status hotline for residents in the Jamestown area: 303-441-3938.
Sign up to be notified by email when a Press Release is posted to
the Sheriff's Office website.
Listen to the Overland Fire communications on the Sheriff's Office
on-line radio
Updated 9:00am October 30th, 2003
Residents evacuated from Jamestown and Lefthand Canyon can return if they have I.D.
US 36 is now open, however Lefthand Canyon is closed from US 36 to The Bar K Ranch.
Additional press updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Overland Fire status hotline for residents in the Jamestown area: 303-441-3938.
Sign up to be notified by email when a Press Release is posted to
the Sheriff's Office website.
Listen to the Overland Fire communications on the Sheriff's Office
on-line radio
Updated 10:00pm October, 29th, 2003
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CORRECTION TO THE UPDATED PRESS RELEASE SENT AT 7:30 P.M:
Boulder County Sheriff’s Communications will be posting periodic pre-recorded updates on the status of the
“Overland” wildfire at #303/441-3938. The number previously provided (#303/441-3621) was incorrect.
Pursuant to the last update (7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29th), the Sheriff’s Office has rescinded the
mandatory evacuation order for the Lake of the Pines subdivision. The cold front that blew through the area at
approximately 7:00 p.m. fanned the flames and pushed the fire to the top of the ridge west of the subdivision,
precipitating the evacuation order. The winds have subsided for the moment; nonetheless, residents should be
prepared to evacuate on short notice should they pick up again.
Fire crews will remain in-site overnight, doing structure protection work in Jamestown, in Lake of the Pines,
and working to preserve a fire line along the Geer Canyon Road in the Heil Ranch Open Space area.
Fire investigators have determined that the fire originated with a downed power line near the Burlington mine
site, near the intersection of James Canyon and County Road 87, above Jamestown.
Additional press updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Overland Fire status hotline for residents in the Jamestown area: 303-441-3938.
Live Web Cam of smoke
from fire, from the NCAR Foothills Laboratory.
Sign up to be notified by email when a Press Release is posted to
the Sheriff's Office website.
Listen to the Overland Fire communications on the Sheriff's Office
on-line radio
Updated 7:00pm October 29th, 2003
As of 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, the “Overland” wildfire northwest of Boulder had grown to encompass an
estimated 4,000-5,000 acres. The fire expanded exponentially during the mid-afternoon hours, pushed by winds
gusting to 50 miles per hour. Several structures on County Road 87 northwest of Jamestown are presumed lost, though
no accurate estimate of the number of nature of the structures (summer cabins, outbuildings, etc) is available at
present. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
Approximately 300 people have complied with the Sheriff’s direction to evacuate the Jamestown, James Canyon, and
Lefthand Canyon (between the North Foothills Highway and the intersection with James Canyon) areas. An estimated
2200 residents have been notified, either by personal contact from a Sheriff’s deputy or through the County’s “911
call back” phone system that they should evacuate or be prepared to do so on short notice. Lefthand Canyon, James
Canyon, and the North Foothills Highway between Neva Road and Nelson Road are closed to all but emergency traffic.
A flare-up at approximately 7:30 p.m., occasioned by renewed gusting winds, gave rise to a mandatory evacuation
order for the Lake of the Pines subdivision, located north of Lefthand Canyon and west of the North Foothills
Highway. That evacuation is underway as of this writing.
The Sheriff’s Office has designated the Boulder County Fairgrounds, located at Hover and Nelson Roads in
Longmont, as the emergency evacuation shelter. Personnel from the Red Cross are on-site, ready to assist evacuees.
The Fairgrounds also offers the oppor-tunity for evacuees with livestock (horses, cattle, etc) with facilities to
stable them.
Firefighters are engaged in structural protection efforts and have conducted “back burns” around the town of
Jamestown with the objective of protecting the town, however, the success of their efforts is largely dependent
upon the weather. Forecasts call for continued gusting winds through 10:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, with
temperatures dropping into the 30’s and the relative humidity rising to 50% overnight. There is little hope for
significant precipitation in the immediate future.
There are approximately 100 firefighters from an estimated 15 local fire departments battling the blaze. An
additional 200 firefighters (ten 20-person crews) have been requested and a federal “Type 1” fire management team
has been summoned to assist. A single-engine air tanker has been dispatched from Boise, Idaho and will be available
to aid in the effort on Thursday, weather permitting. A contract helicopter, capable of making water drops, will
also be available.
Authority for fire suppression efforts has been transferred to state and federal officials, though a unified
command structure, involving the United States Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service, Boulder County
Sheriff’s Office, and local fire protection districts, is coordinating the fire-fighting efforts. The fire command
center has been relocated to Centennial Middle School, on Norwood Street, east of 19th Street, in Boulder.
Periodic updates are being posted for residents and the public by the Sheriff’s Communications Center at
#303/441-3938. Additional press updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Additional updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Overland Fire status hotline for residents in the Jamestown area: 303-441-3938.
Live Web Cam of smoke
from fire, from the NCAR Foothills Laboratory.
Sign up to be notified by email when a Press Release is posted to
the Sheriff's Office website.
Listen to the Overland Fire communications on the Sheriff's Office
on-line radio
Updated 2:45pm October 29th, 2003
The Overland fire has grown to 400-500 acres. Mandatory evacuations included Jamestown, Lefthand Canyon to US 36
and the area near Heil Valley Ranch.
Olde Stage Road is closed, as well as southbound US 36 between Neva Road and Nelson roads.
Temporary shelter is being setup at the Boulder County Fairgrounds for evacuated residents. Large animals should
be taken there as well, or contact the Longmont Humane Society.
The command post was set up at Centennial Middle School at 19th and Norwood Streets in Boulder.
Additional updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Overland Fire status hotline for residents in the Jamestown area: 303-441-3938.
Live Web Cam of smoke
from fire, from the NCAR Foothills Laboratory.
Sign up to be notified by email when a Press Release is posted to
the Sheriff's Office website.
Listen to the Overland Fire communications on the Sheriff's Office
on-line radio
Updated 10:30am October 29th, 2003
Deputies and emergency services personnel from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and firefighters from eight
local fire protection districts are currently engaged in battling a wildfire that has consumed an estimated 30
acres of private and United States Forest Service (USFS) land north of Jamestown, approximately 10 miles northwest
of Boulder.
The fire, designated the “Overland Fire” due to its location off of Overland Road, north of Jamestown, was
discovered early Wednesday morning between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m. The cause has not yet been determined. Winds gusting
to 50 miles per hour are pushing the fire east. No structures have been lost, but several are threatened. The
Sheriff’s Office has evacuated approximately 100 area residents and students from the Calwood Ranch nature
education camp (operated by the Denver Public School system). The Red Cross is establishing an emergency evacuation
center at the National Guard Armory, Broadway/Lee Hill Road, Boulder for those displaced by the fire.
At present, County Road 87 and County Road 87 J, accessing the Balarat area north of Jamestown, are closed.
65 firefighters, representing the Jamestown, Lefthand, Mountain View, Four Mile, Indian Peaks, Boulder Rural,
Sugarloaf, and Eldorado Springs Fire Protection Districts are on scene, as are representatives from the Colorado
State Forest Service and United States Forest Service. Additional crews have been summoned to the scene. The fire
command center is located at the Jamestown Post Office.
As might be expected, the highly visible smoke plume has prompted hundreds of calls to the Sheriff’s
Communications Center. The Sheriff’s Office asks for the public’s patience in responding to routine calls for
service and requests that non-emergency inquiries about the status of the fire be deferred. Additionally, travel in
the James Canyon area and along Overland Road is discouraged.
Additional updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Overland Fire status hotline for residents in the Jamestown area: 303-441-3938.
Sign up to be notified by email when a Press Release is posted to
the Sheriff's Office website.
Listen to the Overland Fire communications on the Sheriff's Office
on-line radio
