Published January 13, 2015
Heavy rain Friday night flooded the area where the largest wildfire in Colorado history burned in 2002, washing out bridges and prompting authorities to urge residents to seek higher ground.
Up to 2 inches of rain fell in some areas of central Colorado south of Denver, National Weather Service meteorologist Kyle Fredin said. A flash flood warning was issued.
"Two or three bridges are knocked out," Fredin said. "We've gotten reports of furniture floating down the river."
Search and rescue teams from Teller and Douglas counties were heading to the area to see if anyone was stranded, Douglas County sheriff's spokeswoman Cocha Heyden said.
Colorado Department of Transportation crews were trying to control debris on 6 miles of Colorado 67 that were closed due to flooding, spokesman Fritz Homann said.
"One lane had washed away and the other was not far behind, so that stretch is closed indefinitely," he said.
An automated system called 86 homes in the Westcreek area to tell residents to seek higher ground. Heyden did not know how deep the water was, but said it was running about 60 to 80 feet wide.
The storm was centered over the area where the 138,000-acre Hayman fire burned four years ago, stripping vegetation that could help soak up moisture. The Forest Service has worked to reseed the area.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/heavy-rains-flood-colorado-washing-out-bridges