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Flashback Friday: Historic Heat Drives Record Wildfire Season In Colorado

By Chris Spears

DENVER (CBS4) - If you lived in Colorado during June 2012 chances are that you remember the month very well.

It was extremely hot and dry with record wildfires including the High Park Fire, Flagstaff Fire and Waldo Canyon Fire.

High Park Fire
Behind the lines of the High Park Fire June 21 with the Colorado National Guard (credit: Colorado National Guard)

For some communities June 2012 was the hottest in recorded history.

A few hundred temperature records were set across the state including an all-time high of 101°F in Colorado Springs on June 26.

Denver tied it's all-time record high twice and set a new all-time record high for the month when the temperature hit 105°F on June 25 and June 26.

The temperature in Denver hit 90°F or higher on 17 days that month including a 5-day stretch in the triple digits.

June 22 - 102°F
June 23 - 104°F
June 24 - 102°F
June 25 - 105°F
June 26 - 105°F

It was only the third time in Denver weather history, which dates back to 1872, that the temperature hit 100°F five days in a row.

Several places on Colorado's eastern plains saw temperatures climb to 110°F or higher including Las Animas, Lamar, Joes, Yuma, Holyoke, Ordway and La Junta.

Las Animas recorded a temperature of 114°F on June 26, 2012.

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Living With Wildfire section.

Wildfire Photo Galleries

- See images from the most destructive wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.

Meteorologist Chris Spears writes about stories related to weather and climate in Colorado. Check out his bio, connect with him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @ChrisCBS4.

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