Appendix B: Table B-8

Research Paper RMRS-RP-9
Fire Behavior Associated with the 1994 South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain, Colorado

Appendix B: Chronology, Fire Behavior, Weather, Distances, Firefighter Travel Rates, and Fire Spread Rates

Table B-8--Estimated fire spread rates.

Fire Movement
Distance
Time reference
Elapsed
time
Fire spread
Rate

Fire movement north up West Drainage

(ft)
(s)
(ft/s)

Double Draw - South end of West Bench.
815
Fire at base of Double Draws (1602) - Fire on West Bench (1607).
300

2.7

South end of West Bench - West Bench below Spur Ridge.
690
Fire on south end of West Bench (1607) - Fire in Archuleta - Doehring photograph* (1611:15).
255

2.7

Erickson Spot Fire - Helitack Site.
2,040
Erickson left Tree* (1611:15) - Helitack overrun (1622:30).
675

3.0

1,450 ft Hipke start point - Stump (midslope position of series of hook north and run east).
600
Hipke observation from Spur Ridge (1608:40) - Mackey at Spur Ridge (1610:30).
110

5.5

Fire movement from Bench to Main Ridge

South end of West Bench - Rocks north of H-1.
1,735
Hipke observation from Stump (1607) - Fire crested Main Ridge at Rocks (1610).
180

9.6

Stump - Main Ridge at 200 ft Main Ridge Spot Fire. Fire run photographed by Archuleta and Doehring (time, 1611 - 1611:15).
975
Fire run heard ("fire roared") (1610:30) - Scholz observed fire curl on Main Ridge (1612:15).
105

9.3

Fire on West Bench under Spur Ridge - Middle of Fatality Site. Fire run in green oak.
910
Fire in photograph (1611:15) - (1613:30). West Flank Fireline Group overrun.
135

6.7

Middle Fatality Site - Zero Point. Fire run in underburned oak.
240
Crew overrun (1613:30) - Hipke down near Zero Point (1614).
30

8.0

Fire on West Bench under Spur Ridge - Zero Point (full run).
1,150
Fire in photograph (1611:15) - Hipke down near Zero Point (1614).
165

7.0

Erickson Spot Fire - Middle of Fatality Site. Fire run in grass and green oak.
955
Erickson left Tree (1611:15) - West Flank Fireline Group overrun (1613:30).
135

7.1

Erickson Spot Fire - Zero Point (full run).
1,195
Erickson left Tree (1611:15) - Hipke down (1614).
165

7.2

Erickson Spot Fire - H-2.
1,350
Erickson left Tree (1611:15) - fusees igniting at H-2 (1614:30).
195

6.9

Spot Fire - Saddle below Drop Zone.
1,420
Erickson left Tree (1611:15) - Fire cut off helitack crew (1615).
225

6.3

*1611:15 is a critical time in many of the calculations of this table. The later photographs by Archuleta and Doehring were shot at about this time. Based on travel rate calculations, Erickson left the Tree at about this same time. Based on Erickson's statements from his vantage point, the spot fire grew toward the north but not uphill before he left the Tree. It is assumed that the main fire burning on the north end of the Bench and the spot fire he observed began to spread uphill as he left the Tree.

Back to Appendix B

Title: Appendix B: Table B-8 RMRS-RP-9 - Fire Behavior Associated with the 1994 South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain, Colorado
Publish Date: February 5, 1999
Last Update: December 22, 2005

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Fire Movement	Distance	Time reference	Elapsed time	Fire spread Rate

	Fire movement north up West Drainage
	(ft)		(s)	(ft/s)
Double Draw - South end of West Bench.	815	Fire at base of Double Draws (1602) - Fire on West Bench (1607).	300	2.7
South end of West Bench - West Bench below Spur Ridge.	690	Fire on south end of West Bench (1607) - Fire in Archuleta - Doehring photograph* (1611:15).	255	2.7
Erickson Spot Fire - Helitack Site.	2,040	Erickson left Tree* (1611:15) - Helitack overrun (1622:30).	675	3.0

1,450 ft Hipke start point - Stump (midslope position of series of hook north and run east).	600	Hipke observation from Spur Ridge (1608:40) - Mackey at Spur Ridge (1610:30).	110	5.5
	Fire movement from Bench to Main Ridge
South end of West Bench - Rocks north of H-1.	1,735	Hipke observation from Stump (1607) - Fire crested Main Ridge at Rocks (1610).	180	9.6
Stump - Main Ridge at 200 ft Main Ridge Spot Fire. Fire run photographed by Archuleta and Doehring (time, 1611 - 1611:15).	975	Fire run heard ("fire roared") (1610:30) - Scholz observed fire curl on Main Ridge (1612:15).	105	9.3

Fire on West Bench under Spur Ridge - Middle of Fatality Site. Fire run in green oak.	910	Fire in photograph (1611:15) - (1613:30). West Flank Fireline Group overrun.	135	6.7
Middle Fatality Site - Zero Point. Fire run in underburned oak.	240	Crew overrun (1613:30) - Hipke down near Zero Point (1614).	30	8.0
Fire on West Bench under Spur Ridge - Zero Point (full run).	1,150	Fire in photograph (1611:15) - Hipke down near Zero Point (1614).	165	7.0

Erickson Spot Fire - Middle of Fatality Site. Fire run in grass and green oak.	955	Erickson left Tree (1611:15) - West Flank Fireline Group overrun (1613:30).	135	7.1
Erickson Spot Fire - Zero Point (full run).	1,195	Erickson left Tree (1611:15) - Hipke down (1614).	165	7.2

Erickson Spot Fire - H-2.	1,350	Erickson left Tree (1611:15) - fusees igniting at H-2 (1614:30).	195	6.9
Spot Fire - Saddle below Drop Zone.	1,420	Erickson left Tree (1611:15) - Fire cut off helitack crew (1615).	225	6.3

*1611:15 is a critical time in many of the calculations of this table. The later photographs by Archuleta and Doehring were shot at about this time. Based on travel rate calculations, Erickson left the Tree at about this same time. Based on Erickson's statements from his vantage point, the spot fire grew toward the north but not uphill before he left the Tree. It is assumed that the main fire burning on the north end of the Bench and the spot fire he observed began to spread uphill as he left the Tree.