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Raging Western Wildfires in Photos

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Firefighters morning briefing

Firefighters morning briefing

(Image credit: Inciweb)

Filling Up To Fight Fire

Filling Up To Fight Fire

(Image credit: Drew Petersen, Archuleta County)

A firefighting K-MAX helicopter fills its bucket from a pond on June 8, 2012 near Durango, Colo.

Little Sand Fire #1

Fire activity builds in the Sand Creek drainage.

(Image credit: U.S. Forest Service)

Fire builds in a valley near Sand Creek, on June 18, 2012.

Little Sand Fire

Little Sand Fire

(Image credit: U.S. Forest Service)

Another look at the Little Sand Fire near Durango, Colo. on June 20, 2012.

Blazing tree

Blazing tree

(Image credit: U.S. Forest Service)

A tree gets torched in the High Park Fire near Fort Collins, Colo. in this undated photo from June, 2012.

Smoke Above Little Sand

Smoke Above Little Sand

(Image credit: U.S. Forest Service)

Smoke rises high above the Little Sand fire in this undated June, 2012, photo.

Planning the next move

Firefighters discuss their approach to tackling the High Park Fire on June 9, 2012.

(Image credit: U.S. Forest Service)

Firefighters discuss their approach to tackling the High Park Fire on June 9, 2012.

The plume from way up

The plume from way up

(Image credit: Suzanne Flory, USFS)

View of a smoke plume from a commercial airliner on June 8, 2012.

Removing the heat

Firefighters turn over a burning log to dissipate heat, while fighting the Little Sand fire on May 28, 2012.

(Image credit: U.S. Forest Service)

Firefighters turn over a burning log to dissipate heat, while fighting the Little Sand fire on May 28, 2012.

Backing fires

Backing fires

(Image credit: U.S. Forest Service)

Backing fires in the south rim of the Piedra River, which were set to remove undergrowth in a controlled manner and hopefully stop the wildfire, once it arrives. Taken May 28, 2012, near the Little Sand fire.

The fire this time

The High Park Fire burning

(Image credit: U.S. Forest Service)

The High Park Fire Burns on June 10. It's been the costliest fire in Colorado history. It has already cost more than $31.5 million to put the fires out, and 2.2 million gallons (8.3 million liters) of water have been dropped on the fire, according to InciWeb.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
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