Steep slopes, heavy fuels in timber make containment difficult on Brush Creek Fire near Rifle Gap State park: #BrushCreekFire

Hand crews and air resources are working together to contain this fire in a rugged part of Garfield County. This approximately 400-acre fire is close to the border between the BLM and the White River National Forest boundary approximately 10 miles north of Rifle.

One Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT), 4 single engine air tanker (SEAT) aircraft, 3 helicopters in combination with 7 - 20 person fire crews and 9 fire engines are working hard to suppress this fire. Approximately 200 personnel from the Colorado River Fire - Rescue, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service and other rural and city fire departments are working together.

The northern boundary of the fire is located on steep rocky slopes with heavy fuels comprised of Douglas fire and other shrubs. These conditions are making line construction and containment difficult. One 11,000 gallon retardant load from the VLAT helped the firefighters improve and hold the fire-line along the western edge of the fire located on a narrow ridge.

At this time we have 30% containment of the fire. In order to save time and resources some of the hand crews will be camped on the fire-line; food and water will be slung by helicopter to them.

These burning conditions are expected to last into next week.

Updated information is available at www.inciweb.org or by calling 970-274-0498

Information provided by Brush Creek Fire Information Officer.