It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Daniels & Fisher gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Denver, CO is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting City Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Mizuna or visit Molly Brown House Museum, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Denver, CO, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Denver, CO understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Denver, CO 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The forecast calls for hot and dry weather for the next few days in Colorado, but big changes finally arrive this weekend.DENVER — A layer of smoke and haze continue to cover Colorado as the region deals with near-record high temperatures.The wildfire smoke impacting Colorado, including the Denver metro area, Front Range and Interstate 25 corridor, will hamper visibility at times, especially in the high country west of the Divide.The smoke on Wednesday afternoon is at its worst in the Fort Collins area.In De...
The forecast calls for hot and dry weather for the next few days in Colorado, but big changes finally arrive this weekend.
DENVER — A layer of smoke and haze continue to cover Colorado as the region deals with near-record high temperatures.
The wildfire smoke impacting Colorado, including the Denver metro area, Front Range and Interstate 25 corridor, will hamper visibility at times, especially in the high country west of the Divide.
The smoke on Wednesday afternoon is at its worst in the Fort Collins area.
In Denver and along the Front Range, most of the smoke is coming from the Elk Fire that is burning near Meeker in western Colorado.
There are several fires in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona supplying the hazy and smoky conditions overhead. Smoke-related air quality will be worst in western Colorado, closer to the source of the smoke.
Fire weather danger will continue to be an issue this week, with gusty 30-35 mph winds and a very dry airmass over Colorado. There will be high fire danger in the mountains, especially west of the Continental Divide, all week long.
The 9NEWS Weather Impact Team has issued a Weather Impact Alert for Thursday due to the heat, partially because of highs near 100 in Denver, but also because of overnight lows that'll struggle to drop below 70 degrees.
Douglas, Jefferson, Denver, western Arapahoe, western Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer, Weld, Routt, Rio Blanco, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Jackson, Grand and Clear Creek Counties are under an Air Quality Health Advisory into Thursday.
A Heat Advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for Thursday between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., with highs near 100 degrees in Denver.
The relief from the heat won't come until the weekend as a trough of low pressure sweeps across the area. That could drop high temperatures below 90 degrees and bring at least some isolated storm chances Saturday and Sunday.
Bear Peak Development sold a 30K SF industrial property in Frederick that houses the research and development operations of The Toro Co., a Fortune 500 maker of outdoor maintenance equipment.The property at 4160 Busch Place sold for $11.4M, or about $381 per SF. It is also home to Owl Offroad, which makes and sells gear for adventure vans.Pinnacle Real Estate Advisors’ Peter Sengelmann and Paul Schneider represented Bear Peak. The buyer wasn't disclosed.Toro opened the Frederick location in 2024 after being awarded...
Bear Peak Development sold a 30K SF industrial property in Frederick that houses the research and development operations of The Toro Co., a Fortune 500 maker of outdoor maintenance equipment.
The property at 4160 Busch Place sold for $11.4M, or about $381 per SF. It is also home to Owl Offroad, which makes and sells gear for adventure vans.
Pinnacle Real Estate Advisors’ Peter Sengelmann and Paul Schneider represented Bear Peak. The buyer wasn't disclosed.
Toro opened the Frederick location in 2024 after being awarded more than $500M in job-growth tax incentives from the Colorado Economic Development Commission.
Sengelmann said the property drew strong interest from a broad mix of investors, but ultimately the team focused on private capital to achieve better pricing. Pinnacle secured a buyer and closed in 92 days at 98% of the list price.
SALES
A 2K SF freestanding Starbucks drive-thru at 1835 W. 120th Ave. in Westminster sold for $2.1M. Elizabeth Morgan, Cody Stambaugh and Kyle Moyer of Pinnacle Real Estate Advisors represented the buyer, Surreal Holdings LLC, while David Wirgler of Northmarq represented the seller. The property is leased to Starbucks under a long-term, single-tenant net lease.
A 12K SF office building at 6855 W. 119th Ave. in Broomfield sold for $1.9M. Pinnacle Real Estate Advisors’ Mark Alley represented the unnamed buyer and seller in the transaction.
FINANCING
Mesa West Capital has provided an affiliate of Crow Holdings Capital with $52M in short-term, floating-rate debt to refinance Canyon Reserve at the Ranch, a 17-building, 256-unit garden-style community in Westminster. Built in 1984 and repositioned in 2022, the property is at 2890 W. 116th Place.
THIS AND THAT
The owners of Michelin-recommended Restaurant Olivia are launching Dear Emilia, an Italian eatery inspired by the Emilia-Romagna region. The 3,700 SF restaurant is slated to open in late 2025 or early 2026 on the ground floor of The Current at 3615 Delgany St. in the River North Art District.
Developers in Denver will no longer be required to include a set number of parking spaces in most new projects after the city council voted to eliminate the city’s parking minimums.
The change removes rules that previously tied parking requirements to zoning and project type — such as one space per apartment unit or four per 1K SF for restaurants — with some exemptions already in place for downtown buildings, single-family homes and accessory dwelling units.
Denver-based Forum Investment Group’s Real Estate Income Fund has surpassed $300M in net assets. Launched in 2019, the interval fund invests in a mix of public and private real estate debt, targeting high income potential with lower volatility.
Five wildfires burning on Colorado’s Western Slope have spread to more than 32,000 acres, spurred by hot, dry and windy weather and forcing ongoing evacuations, fire officials said Wednesday.A rapidly growing wildfire west of Craig closed U.S. 40 in both directions Wednesday afternoon, state transportation officials said.The fire — called the Twelve fire on the Bureau of Lan...
Five wildfires burning on Colorado’s Western Slope have spread to more than 32,000 acres, spurred by hot, dry and windy weather and forcing ongoing evacuations, fire officials said Wednesday.
A rapidly growing wildfire west of Craig closed U.S. 40 in both directions Wednesday afternoon, state transportation officials said.
The fire — called the Twelve fire on the Bureau of Land Management’s fire dashboard — burned across 1,000 acres over the course of five hours Wednesday after sparking in Moffat County near Elk Springs, about 50 miles west of Craig, according to federal officials.
Witnesses reported the fire at 3 p.m., and the cause is unknown.
U.S. 40 is closed between Blue Mountain and Lowell Street in Maybell.
The Twelve fire sparked northwest of twin wildfires burning around Meeker in Rio Blanco County. Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday added the Lee fire to a weekend disaster declaration for the nearby Elk fire.
There is also a disaster declaration for the Leroux fire burning near Hotchkiss in Delta County, which activates state emergency and firefighting resources to help with the wildfires.
Lightning sparked three of the fires during the weekend, and the flames rapidly grew in the Western Slope’s dry vegetation, exacerbated by windy, hot and dry weather, officials said.
The swath of fires is sending smoke across Colorado and caused air-quality health alerts for most of the Western Slope and parts of the Front Range and Eastern Plains, according to the National Weather Service.
Dangerous fire conditions, including record-breaking heat on the Front Range and red flag warnings in western Colorado, prompted severe weather alerts across the state.
Multiple Colorado and federal recreation areas were closed Wednesday, including Oak Ridge, Rio Blanco, Colorow Mountain and Piceance state wildlife areas and parts of the White River National Forest and San Juan National Forest.
A wildfire burning near Meeker in Rio Blanco County has scorched more than 22,000 acres, fire officials said Wednesday morning.
The Lee fire, which has since absorbed the Grease fire that also started nearby, was last mapped at 22,497 acres, fire officials said.
It's nearly the size of the Turner Gulch fire, which is currently Colorado's largest wildfire at 22,860 acres. That wildfire has been burning since early July in Mesa County.
Meeker is about 70 miles northwest of Glenwood Springs and 40 miles north of Interstate 70.
Afternoon winds fueled the fire, pushing the flames up to Colorado 13, fire officials said in a Wednesday morning update. The fire has not crossed the highway.
Firefighters are working to protect homes and other buildings on the east side of the fire, including along Colorado 13, according to the update. Crews on the fire's western and southern edges are focused on securing fire lines and containing the flames.
Incident managers are "evaluating the direction and rates of fire spread" to determine if additional evacuations need to be issued.
As of Wednesday morning, the evacuation area was bordered to the east by Colorado 13 and the Grand Hogback, the north by Colorado 64, the west by Rio Blanco County Road 5 and the south by Bald Knob Mountain, Fourteenmile Creek and County Road 22, according to the evacuation map.
Multiple areas north and east of the current evacuation zones are on pre-evacuation status, according to the map.
A second wildfire burning just miles away from the Lee fire, on the other side of Meeker, had consumed more than 8,300 acres as of Wednesday, according to fire officials.
The lightning-sparked Elk fire is burning on 8,304 acres with no containment, fire officials said Wednesday morning. It has destroyed at least two homes and one outbuilding since it started Saturday afternoon.
More than 230 fire personnel are battling the Elk and Lee fires as of Wednesday morning, including seven aircraft, nine fire engines and seven hand crews, fire officials said.
Hot and dry conditions continue to fuel the fires on either side of Meeker, with red flag warnings scheduled from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
The alert warns of low humidity between 8% and 13%, gusty winds up to 35 mph, and more.
"Fires will catch and spread quickly," forecasters stated in the warning.
Fire officials said the weather is "conducive to large fire growth, with all key factors for extreme fire behavior."
The area's steep slopes, wind-exposed mesa and flammable vegetation also "promote rapid fire spread," officials said. Several months of above-average temperatures, below-average precipitation and ongoing drought leading up to the fire have "severely stressed the ecosystem."
The evacuation zone is bordered to the south by White River, the west by the Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway, the north by County Road 14 and the east by Big Lick Reservoir, according to Rio Blanco County's emergency map. Multiple other areas remain under pre-evacuation orders.
Evacuations were lifted Wednesday for the Leroux fire, which is burning just over a mile east of Redlands Mesa in Delta County with no containment.
The 179-acre fire had "reduced fire behavior" Tuesday compared with Monday, but crews have not reported any containment, Delta County emergency officials said Wednesday.
Smoke was reported near Oak Mesa outside of Hotchkiss, which is about 20 miles east of Delta, about 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Evacuation orders were first issued early Monday morning as the fire began to rapidly grow, officials said.
The previously evacuated area included 3100 Road north of Oak Mesa Road, the 7X Ranch, residents along 3100 Road between the Leroux Creek bridge and the U.S. Forest Service Boundary and campers between Forest Service Road 128 and Bailey Reservoir.
That area is now on pre-evacuation orders. Residents can return home, but 3100 Road remains closed to the public.
Part of the San Juan National Forest was evacuated Tuesday when a wildfire sparked amid the trees.
The Stoner Mesa fire is burning on 500 acres with no containment about 20 miles northeast of Dolores, a town in Montezuma County about 45 miles northwest of Durango. The fire itself is in Dolores County, sheriff's officials said.
The fire is burning in a "remote, extremely difficult-to-access area" of the national forest and is growing to the east, fire officials said in an update.
Dolores County officials issued evacuation orders for part of the San Juan National Forest on Stoner and Taylor Mesa. Evacuations include:
As of Tuesday evening, the wildfire was "still actively burning and demonstrating extreme fire behavior," U.S. Forest Service officials said.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
An aerial video posted by the Forest Service shows a large column of smoke emerging from an area of dense trees. Flames are visible on the forest floor.
Several rounds of wildfire smoke have been moving into Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and communities up and down the I-25 corridor this week. Most of the smoke is coming from three active wildfires on Colorado's Western Slope: the Lee Fire, ...
Several rounds of wildfire smoke have been moving into Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and communities up and down the I-25 corridor this week. Most of the smoke is coming from three active wildfires on Colorado's Western Slope: the Lee Fire, Elk Fire and Turner Gulch Fire.
Starting early Tuesday evening, residents in the Denver metro area may have noticed that the smoke overhead appeared thicker. This was a direct result of increased fire behavior earlier Tuesday afternoon on the Western Slope.
Another noticeably thick round of wildfire smoke, coming from the same fires, is anticipated to arrive Wednesday night.
With winds blowing out of the west, smoke from these fires is carried into the atmosphere and funneled to the I-25 corridor. This results in smoke arriving in waves. As fire activity increases, so does the size and density of the smoke plume.
During calmer periods, when winds weaken, less smoke is transported along the Front Range, leading to temporary improvements in air quality.
The Elk Fire was listed at over 7,000 acres on Tuesday and the Lee Fire has burned more than 13,000 acres. Both are close to the town of Meeker. The Turner Gulch Fire, not far from the town of Gateway, is 49% contained and has burned more than 22,000 acres.
Joe Ruch is a First Alert Meteorologist with CBS News Colorado. Catch his latest First Alert Weather updates on TV and on our free streaming service, CBS News Colorado.
Dangerous fire conditions, soaring temperatures and smoky skies across Colorado prompted severe weather alerts for parts of the Western Slope, Front Range and Eastern Plains on Wednesday and through the week.Temperatures are expected to reach 100 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday in Denver, Boulder, the western metro and Fort Collins, National Weather Service forecasters said in a heat advisory.If Denver h...
Dangerous fire conditions, soaring temperatures and smoky skies across Colorado prompted severe weather alerts for parts of the Western Slope, Front Range and Eastern Plains on Wednesday and through the week.
Temperatures are expected to reach 100 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday in Denver, Boulder, the western metro and Fort Collins, National Weather Service forecasters said in a heat advisory.
If Denver hits 100 degrees on Wednesday, it will tie its heat record for Aug. 6, set in 1980, according to weather service records.
The city also has a chance to break its record for the hottest Aug. 7 if temperatures hit 100 degrees on Thursday, as forecasted. The current record of 99 degrees was also set in 1980.
The heat index in El Paso, Pueblo and Fremont counties is expected to range from 95 to 104 degrees on Thursday and Friday, and from 100 to 107 degrees in Crowley, Otero, Bent and Prowers counties on Thursday, according to the agency. The heat index, or “apparent temperature,” is how hot it feels outside when considering both humidity and temperature.
People can prevent heat-related illnesses by drinking plenty of fluids, staying in an air-conditioned room, staying out of the sun and checking on relatives and neighbors to make sure they are doing the same.
Gusty winds, low humidity, dry fuels and high temperatures are all contributing to critical fire danger across the Western Slope, weather officials said in a red flag warning. Firefighters are battling active wildfires in Rio Blanco, Delta and Dolores counties.
The red flag warning is active from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for parts of Moffat, Routt, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Gunnison, Delta, Eagle and San Miguel counties, where relative humidity is as low as 8% and wind gusts could reach 35 mph.
A second red flag warning is active for parts of Boulder, Larimer, Grand, Jackson, Park, Lake, Chaffee and Summit counties because of gusty winds and low humidity, forecasters said. Critical fire weather conditions will likely continue through Friday.
“Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread,” officials said in the alert. “Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.”
Smoke from the Elk and Lee fires in Rio Blanco County is causing poor air quality throughout the state, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
“The thickest smoke will originate from the Rio Blanco County fires, and arrive on the Front Range each late afternoon and evening, settling across the plains overnight,” weather service forecasters said Wednesday.
An air quality health advisory is active for most of the Front Range and Western Slope until Thursday afternoon, and periods of “moderate to heavy smoke” are possible.
Impacted counties include Denver, Jefferson, Douglas, Arapahoe, Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer, Weld, Clear Creek, Grand, Eagle, Jackson, Gilpin, Garfield, Rio Blanco, Routt and Dolores counties.
If visibility is less than 5 miles, smoke is at unhealthy levels and people should remain inside, especially those with health conditions like heart disease or respiratory illnesses.
303-952-3060
