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  The Buffalo Creek Fire started on May 18, 1996, running 11 miles in 4 & 1/2 hours and burning a total of 11,900 acres. Following the fire, several torrential rainstorms occurred. The largest storm was on July 12, 1996 when 5 inches of rain per hour fell on the burned area. The storms resulted in more than 300,000 cubic yards of sediment moving into Strontia Springs Reservoir that supplies Denver Water’s primary treatment plant. Two people were killed in the floods and four homes were destroyed. Fire suppression cost $2.6 million and $1.6 million was spent on emergency rehabilitation. Six years later, grasses and small plants are reestablished; however, few trees survived. It will be centuries before the area has a mature forest again. Panorama taken July 2002 |
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