Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

An avalanche in the backcountry near Vail has claimed life of a person, Colorado Avalanche Information Center confirmed. Fatality is said to be a grandson of Peter Seibert Sr., a co-founder of the Vail ski resort. Others three trapped in the snow have been rescued without major injuries. The avalanche occurred at around 11:30 am in East Vail Chutes, an area between Vail Mountain and Vail Pass. According to The Denver Post, the East Vail avalanches have deadly history. Out of the eight East Vail avalanche fatalities since the late 1980s, five of the deaths have occurred in the first two weeks of January. Original post: Natural Disasters List January 7, 2014

Update 23:50 UTC -At least two dead bodies have been found in area burned by Colo. wildfire. -Fires are also burning in New Mexico, Oregon and California. More than 360 homes have been destroyed and around 38,000 people have been evacuated by recent Colorado wildfires, Chicago Tribune reported. According to the Colorado Office of Emergency Management, fire continues to burn juniper and pinon trees on both sides of the Royal Gorge Bridge. Colorado wildfires have burned 15,000 acres by late Thursday morning. Livestock evacuation following wildfire on June 11 in Colorado Springs; Jerilee Bennett / Zuma Press Around 900 prisoners were moved by the Royal Gorge fire from the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility outside Canon City on Tuesday. Related post: Latest forest fires worldwide Disaster emergency has been declared for the Black Forest, Royal Gorge fires and fire in rural Huerfano County. The 2012 Colorado wildfires led to declaration of a federal disaster in Ju

Tornado in Colorado has destroyed one mobile house and damaged two others, The Denver Channel reports. Heavy storm also caused 26 flight cancellations at Denver International Airport. According to Washington County Emergency Management, tornado knocked down six power poles between Brush and Last Chance. Half of the town of Akron are without power. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning from midnight to 6 p.m. Tuesday for Arapahoe, east Douglas, east Adams and central Elbert counties. Several schools in Colorado are closed. A winter storm warning through Tuesday afternoon also includes Denver. Hail storms have been already reported in Kansas while heavy storms are predicted to move eastward to Omaha, Neb., and Kansas City, Mo., and southward into Oklahoma and Texas. One of the highest tornadoes ever recorded in the world touched down at 11,900 feet near Mt. Evans in Colorado on July 2012. Photo: Tornado damage in Colorado; The Denver Channel Orig

Wildfire began yesterday west of Fort Collins. Wildfire last year in the same area killed one person and burned 259 homes. Below are the updates on current Galena wildfire. Update 23:00 UTC -Galena fire is now 45% contained. Luckily no structures have been damaged and no injuries reported. -All evacuations orders will be lifted at 02:00 UTC tomorrow (March 17, 2013). -The Galena Fire Information Center will remain open until 24:00 UTC. -Lory State Park, Horsetooth Mountain Park, Inlet Bay and South Bay still remain closed. -The evacuation center at Cache le Poudre school has now been closed. Update 18:30 UTC -Wind speed tomorrow (March 17) is forecast to be 5 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. -A firefighting helicopter has joined the Galena fire. Update 16:00 UTC -The Galena Fire is estimated around 1,000 acres. -Red Cross is currently on the spot assisting the evacuees. -South Bay, Inlet Bay, Lory State Park and Horsetooth Mountain Park are closed. Update 05:10 UTC -