Firefighters have officially left the Coulter Creek Fire after fully containing the 104-acre wildfire, but plan to monitor the burn area for flareups while neighbors breathe a sigh of relief for a wildfire that got too close for comfort.

The fire ripped through a remote neighborhood between Carbondale and Aspen, requiring officials to evacuate local homes while crews got to work trying to contain the fire. Drops from tanker planes and helicopters made a huge dent as the hot, dry winds whipped the fire closer to homes. But Scott Smith of Out of Bounds Ranch said the "air ballet" performed by air crews was magical to watch.

"The response was phenomenal," Smith said. "I'd love to shake every one of their hands and give them a big hug, and I think all the neighbors around here would

See Full Page