Citadel Fire and East Tschuddi Fire Updates: July 23 at 8 a.m.

Management of the Citadel and East Tschuddi Fires transitioned to the Rocky Mountain Area Incident Management Team B at 6:00 a.m. this morning. Both fires were caused by lightning. There are no evacuations or road closures for either fire at this time.

Citadel Fire, Moffat County: The Citadel Fire was reported on Sunday at approximately 12:00 p.m. The fire grew to approximately 1600 acres during the first day. On Monday, fire behavior was not as severe; and active burning occurred primarily within the interior of the fire with about 200 acres of perimeter growth. Fire crews were able to create a safe anchor point and safety zone with hand work and a burnout operation, which was critical due to the challenges presented by the steep, rugged terrain.

Citadel Fire Statistics at a Glance

  • Time/Date Started: July 21, 2013, 12:00 p.m.
  • Location: 40 miles northwest of Meeker in Moffat County, Colorado
  • Cause: Lightning
  • Fuels: Piñon –Juniper, Sage Brush
  • Size: 1,898 acres
  • Containment: 10%

East Tschuddi Fire, Rio Blanco County: The East Tschuddi Fire was reported on Saturday at approximately 3:30 p.m. There was no significant growth on the fire Monday. The East Tschuddi Fire is also located in steep, rugged terrain. Air resources, working in conjunction with fire crews, began to establish containment lines on the fire yesterday.

East Tschuddi Fire Statistics at a Glance

  • Time/Date Started: July 20, 2013, 3:30 p.m.
  • Location: 20 miles northwest of Meeker in Rio Blanco County, Colorado
  • Cause: Lightning
  • Fuels: Piñon –Juniper, Sage Brush, Oak Brush, Douglas Fir
  • Size: 435 acres
  • Containment: 25%

Fire Information Sources and Contacts