What is the name and location of the wildfire?

As of August 1, 2024, the Quarry Fire is burning in Jefferson County, Colorado, in the Deer Creek Canyon area, west of Ken Caryl (1). The fire was first discovered along Deer Creek Canyon Road, near Grizzly Drive.

The 341-acre fire is very close to Denver and is posing serious challenges for fire fighters. The terrain is steep and features timber, scrub oak, and rattlesnakes (2).

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?

The Quarry Fire affects several areas in Jefferson County, including the Deer Creek Mesa, Sampson, Maxwell, McKinney, and Murphy subdivisions.

Air quality is poor in Colorado due to smoke from the Quarry Fire, the nearby Alexander Mountain Fire, and other western U.S. and Canadian wildfires. Cities impacted include:

• Aurora
• Boulder
• Denver
• Fort Collins
• Loveland

What is the current containment status of the wildfire?

As of August 1, the Quarry Fire has burned 341 acres and is 0% contained (3). Efforts to contain the fire involve multiple agencies, with air tankers and helicopters being deployed to drop fire retardant and water on the flames.

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

There are mandatory evacuation orders for the Deer Creek Mesa, Sampson, Maxwell, McKinney, and Murphy subdivisions.

An evacuation center is set up at Dakota Ridge High School in Littleton, providing shelter for residents and their pets. Large animals are being evacuated to the Jefferson County fairgrounds. Residents in the Silver Ranch and Silver Ranch South subdivisions are on pre-evacuation notice, and several roads in the area are closed to facilitate evacuation and firefighting efforts.

How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?

Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.

• Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
• Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
• Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
• Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
• Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.