Examination of the home destruction in Los Alamos associated with the Cerro Grande Fire - July 10, 2000

Abstract

I arrived at Los Alamos on May 14, 2000 to conduct an examination of the home destruction associated with the Cerro Grande Fire. My examination occurred between the afternoon of 5/14 and late afternoon on 5/16. I had contact with the southern command post incident management team, the Los Alamos Fire Department, and the Santa Fe National Forest.The homes were destroyed as the main body of the Cerro Grande Fire burned past Los Alamos to the north-northeast and then toward the northeast between about 1700 on 5/10 to the early morning hours of 5/11. About 200 single and multi-family structures were totally destroyed or irreparably damaged. Although fire suppression actions saved homes, the high ignitability of most of the residential area allowed numerous simultaneous house fires that quickly overwhelmed the suppression forces.

Citation

Cohen, Jack D. 2000. Examination of the home destruction in Los Alamos associated with the Cerro Grande Fire - July 10, 2000. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, Montana.