Fire resources
from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit (UCR)
continue to respond to initial attack fires and conduct “smoke checks”
on reported fires, resulting from lightning
storms passing through the area. Across the protection zone, multiple
storms have occurred, some with adequate precipitation to extinguish
small fires and/or allow fire resources to suppress the fires before
they grow larger. Primarily in the west zone of
the UCR, larger fires are occurring. No facilities or structures have
been threatened by these fires.
A
new single-tree fire (Coon Creek) was reported along Highway 65 near
Powderhorn Ski area on Grand Mesa this morning. It is located on
private
land about 6 miles from the Powderhorn Ski area and adjacent to
National Forest System lands. Yesterday’s Powderhorn Fire on private
lands is contained, with the expectation of control today, as per
the Plateau Valley Fire Chief.
Several
fires exist within the BLM’s Black Ridge Canyon Wilderness area. The
Wrigley Fire that was reported Saturday remains at 72 acres in size
and firefighters continue to build line around it and work toward
control. Six smokejumpers and a 20-person fire crew are assigned to the
fire, along with helicopter support.
The
largest is the Long Mesa Fire, also located in the Black Ridge Canyon
Wilderness area, just south of the Colorado River. This fire was
started
by lightning; is estimated to be 460 acres in size; and is burning in
remote, rugged terrain with difficult access. Resources on this fire
include a 20-person initial attack crew, the Texas Canyon hotshot crew,
the Chena hotshot crew (Alaska) and two smokejumpers.
The
Ute Creek Fire is located approximately 6 air miles northeast of
Gateway, CO and south and east of Highway 141. The fire is
approximately 5
acres in size and is visible from Highway 141. It was started by
lightning and is burning in remote, rough and rugged country. On
Sunday, three smokejumpers were dropped onto the fire and retardant was
used to slow the spread. In addition to the smokejumpers,
the Uniweep Fire Module crew and one squad of the Bonneville hotshot
crew (Salt Lake City) are also working the fire.
Forecasted
weather calls for continued thunderstorms, high temperatures and
variable precipitation. Lightning from these storms is expected and
spotty precipitation may result in additional fires. Meanwhile, gusty
and erratic winds may be associated with these storms.
Media Information Line: 970.244.3104
