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NEWS RELEASE
Brushy Mountain Fire Update
Contacts: Lee Ann Loupe, Fire Information Officer, 970.874.6717; cell: 970.596.0246
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grand Junction, CO (May 16, 2012) – Firefighters made good progress on Tuesday to construct fire line around the 170 acre Brushy Mountain Fire. The fire did not grow in size on Tuesday and fire officials continue to make progress toward containment and control. Full containment is estimated for Friday, May 18, pending weather and burning conditions. Incident management on the fire is transitioning from a “Type 3” to a “Type 4” team, which retains local resources and involves a bit less complexity in management.
Additionally, some resources are being released from the fire, including the Craig Hotshot crew, to be available for other fire assignments. The helicopter will be retained in Grand Junction to provide continued assistance with the Brushy Mountain Fire as well as to assist in any initial attack activity that may be needed. The remaining firefighters will continue to monitor conditions and to strengthen and improve fire line as well as “mop up” hot spots within the burn area.
The fire is burning between Delta and Whitewater (Colorado) at the bottom of the North Fork of the Escalante Creek and north of Forest Road #421. No homes or structures are nearby, or threatened.
The Brushy Mountain Fire began on Friday, May 11 on private land in the area and was caused by a lightning strike. The fire burned onto National Forest System Lands on the Uncompahgre Plateau. Weather forecasts call for potential lightning and hot, gusty wind over the next few days.
Fire officials want to remind citizens that, human-caused fires are the biggest threat to have significant negative effects on local communities. This may be a season when extreme care will be critical. We anticipate that fire restrictions will most likely be implemented by federal and local agencies within the next week or two at least for lower elevation areas. Property owners are cautioned that it is very important to reduce flammable fuels around structures and other facilities on private property.
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Brushy Mountain Fire Update
Contacts: Lee Ann Loupe, Fire Information Officer, 970.874.6717; cell: 970.596.0246
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grand Junction, CO (May 15, 2012) – Firefighters continue to work toward containment of the Brushy Mountain Fire. The fire has grown to approximately 170 acres in size and is about 80% contained. Full containment is estimated for Friday, May 18, pending weather and burning conditions. A “Type 3 Incident Management Team” lead by Incident Commander Jeff Phillips is managing the fire and the resources working it. Fire officials say communications to and from the fire are difficult, as it is located in a fairly remote area and there is no cell phone coverage.
The fire is burning between Delta and Whitewater (Colorado) at the bottom of the North Fork of the Escalante Creek and north of Forest Road #421. No homes or structures are nearby, or threatened. A total of 56 persons are assigned to the fire and this includes two engines, a fire crew and various overhead (team) members. A helicopter has been assisting as well.
The Brushy Mountain Fire began on Friday, May 11 on private land in the area and was caused by a lightning strike. The fire burned onto National Forest System Lands on the Uncompahgre Plateau.. Weather forecasts call for a dry, cold front with gusty wind over the next few days. Fire officials will continue to monitor the conditions and work toward containment and control of the fire.
Members of the public are cautioned that ground and vegetation conditions are dry and local winds and the lack of moisture make for conditions that are ripe for wildfire. Please be careful.
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May 13, 2012
Contact: Bill Kight, (970)-948-1894
The 100 acre Brushy Mountain Fire is in a Remote Area Near Delta, Colorado
Grand Junction, CO (May 13, 2012) – The Brushy Mountain Fire was started by lightning on private land May 11. It is burning in piñon/juniper and oakbrush. The fire grew from 30 acres to 100 acres late yesterday afternoon when it made a run upslope on the south flank and moved onto the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest. There are no road closures at this time in the area of the fire.
The fire is located between Delta and Whitewater at the bottom of the North Fork of the Escalante Creek and north of Forest Road 421. People on Highway 50 may be able to see smoke from the fire later this afternoon.
The fire was turned over to a Type 3 Incident Management Team headed by Incident Commander Jeff Phillips. Commander Phillips said, “The fire is burning in really remote terrain which makes communication difficult, especially since there is no cell phone coverage from the fire.”
Other resources on the fire: the Craig 20 person Hotshot Crew, 1 Engine, the Uniweep Fire Module and the Grand Valley Fuels Squad.
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Feb. 27, 2012
Contact: David Boyd, Public Affairs Specialist, 970 876-9008
Prescribed fire planned for Palisade watershed
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – A recent agreement completed among the Bureau of Land Management, the Town of Palisade and the City of Grand Junction means Grand Valley residents could be seeing smoke on the slopes of the Grand Mesa this spring.
The agreement outlines the plans for a 646-acre prescribed fire designed to improve environmental conditions within the Town of Palisade Watershed, about seven miles southeast of town.
“The 2009 Palisade Watershed Fire Mitigation Plan identifies this area as needing treatment to reduce the chance of a large, intense wildfire that could severely impact the watershed,” said Frank Watt, Public Works Director for the Town of Palisade.
The prescribed fire is planned in oak brush and other shrubs on 588 acres owned by the Town of Palisade and 58 acres of BLM.
Because this area hasn’t burned in a number of years, a large amount of debris and other fuel for wildfires has built-up. This burn will decrease that fuel load, helping reduce the risk of a much larger, unwanted wildfire. A prescribed fire will burn much less intensely than a wildfire, but it will still be effective at reducing fuel loads in the area.
“We will only ignite this prescribed fire if conditions are ideal for a safe, effective burn, as well as for good smoke dispersal away from area communities,” said Lathan Johnson, Fuels Specialist for the BLM Grand Junction Field Office.
The planned burn will also improve wildlife habitat by stimulating new, more nutritious plant production in the burned area.
“We anticipate conditions to be right for this burn in April, but depending on weather, it could happen as early as March,” Johnson said. “We want to get information out early given the prescribed fire’s location. Smoke will be very visible throughout the Grand Valley, Plateau Valley and I-70.”
Additional notice will be given to the media and public once the burn is scheduled.
A detailed prescribed fire plan has been developed, and appropriate smoke permits have been obtained from the State of Colorado.
For more information about this planned prescribed fire, contact Lathan Johnson, (970) 244-3120. A map of the planned burn is available at: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gjfo.html
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Oct. 3, 2011
Contact: Patrick Thrasher, USFS Public Information Officer, 970 945-3237
David Boyd, BLM Public Information Officer, 970 876-9008
Firefighters managing remote wildfire near Basalt
Firefighters with the federal Upper Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit are closely managing a small wildfire burning in rugged terrain about three miles southeast of Basalt.
No structures are threatened by the Wingo Fire, which was first reported Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and is likely the result of lightning Saturday night. It’s currently estimated to be 6 acres and growing. It began burning on Bureau of Land Management land between Arbaney Gulch and Wheatly Gulch, but is expected to cross onto the White River National Forest today.
Firefighters are currently using a “confine-contain strategy” to manage the fire because of the rugged terrain and risk to firefighters. They will use a helicopter to drop water at advantageous locations to reduce fire size, placing a priority on slowing and checking fire spread downhill towards Colorado Highway 82.
With predominantly southwest winds and local, upslope winds forecast, firefighters expect the fire will primarily continue to burn into more rugged terrain to the northeast.
Smoke may be visible from Basalt and Highway 82 intermittently over the next several days. A cold front predicted later this week should limit the growth of this fire. Additional information about the Wingo Fire may be obtained by contacting Pat Thrasher at 970-366-0039.
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Release: Immediate Contact: Jim Genung, 970-274-2498
Pat Thrasher, 970-945-3237 (office)
970-366-0039 (cell)
UCR FIRE CREWS TO CONDUCT RESERVOIR GULCH/MUD HILL PRESCRIBED BURN
RIFLE, CO (Tuesday, September 27, 2011) – Favorable weather conditions in the Colorado River valley will allow federal fire officials from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit to conduct the Reservoir Gulch/Mud Hill prescribed burn Wednesday (September 28) and Thursday (September 29) of this week.
The site for this 1400-acre prescribed fire is located approximately 13 miles south of Silt, Colorado and approximately 15 miles east north east of Collbran, Colorado near the Silt-Collbran Road in Mesa County. This prescribed fire project is on the Rifle Ranger District of the White River National Forest, the Grand Valley Ranger District of the Grand Mesa National Forest, and lands of the Colorado River Valley Field Office BLM. This project is partially funded in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
This prescribed fire project will improve wildlife habitat by stimulating new and more nutritious plant production in the burned area. Officials expect the fire pattern will leave a patchwork of burned and unburned areas, providing wildlife with better areas to feed while at the same time leaving areas of unburned vegetation that are important hiding cover. Fire has been absent from this area for a number of years, resulting in a large buildup of fuel. This burn will reduce that fuel load, helping reduce the risk of a much larger, unwanted wildfire by targeting oak brush and mountain shrubs.
For more information please contact Jim Genung at 970- 274-2498.
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Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011 – 5:00 PM
Contact: Norm Rooker, Fire Information Officer, 970-316-0000
Note to media: We will keep the Fire Media Information Line updated as we
receive new information: 970 244-3104.
Cosgrove Fire “Closes Out” Management
Operations
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – As winds settled down yesterday evening and the relative humidity rose back into double digits fire behavior settled down and the fire speed diminished. The Cosgrove Fire grew from1400 acres as measured and mapped by Friday’s 4 PM reconnaissance flight to 1610 acres by this morning’s flight. The trend of diminishing fire activity continued through today with only an estimated 10-15 acres of additional fire growth according to Incident Commander Trainee Randy Jacks.
Between the slow fire growth today and the National Weather Service’s forecast for “moisture surging into Southeast Utah and Southwestern Colorado this afternoon and evening” and tomorrow’s prediction of rain the fire management team has decided to transition from Managing the Cosgrove Fire to monitoring, keeping an eye on it, utilizing periodic aerial reconnaissance flights. The last of the fire crews, engines and equipment will be leaving the Low Gap Base Camp at 6 PM this evening so as to get out ahead of the predicted rain and risk getting stuck by rain slick dirt roads and the frequent washes the only road in and out of the area crosses.
Plans and activities for rehabilitating
the effected fire area are already in progress. Everything from funding a
reseeding effort for the 1600 plus acres
of the Wild Horse Area (WHA) to the more mundane contracting with a sanitation
service to pump out the latrine facilities at the Low Gap camp today are in
the works. Some of the planning documents and templates developed by the BLM
for Managing the Cosgrove Fire will be available for future fires in the area
by the BLM, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department and the De Beque Fire
Department.
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Friday, Aug. 12, 2011 – 5:00 PM
Contact: Norm Rooker, Fire Information Officer, 970 316-0000
Note to media: We will keep the Fire Media Information Line updated as we
receive new information: 970 244-3104.
Fire Reaches 1400 Acres
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – After more than doubling in size from Wednesday morning at 415 acres to Thursday afternoon at 900 acres and then making a major run yesterday evening the Cosgrove Fire switched back to a “slower pace today. The fire, which had grown to 1275 acres as measured by this morning’s reconnaissance grew a mere 125 acres to 1400 acres as measured and mapped by the 4 PM reconnaissance flight.
Firing operations to create a 300 foot “buffer zone” along portions of the southwest flank of the fire continued today. Fire managers elected to extend the buffer zone as they direct the fire towards a sparser/lighter fuels area. Currently the fire continues to burn robustly in the intended direction and fire activity has picked up shortly after 5 PM today. If everything continues on track, fire manager’s plan on demobilizing fire crews by end of shift Saturday evening or Sunday morning and will monitor the fire remotely.
The Grand Junction office of the Bureau of Land Management is formulating a rehabilitation plan and requesting funding for the area so that it will rebound with knee high wild grasses and young sage brush.
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Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011 – 5:15 PM
Contact: Norm Rooker, Fire Information Officer, 970 316-0000
Note to media: We will keep the Fire Media Information Line updated as we
receive new information: 970 244-3104.
Fire grows almost 200 acres overnight
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – According to the National Weather Service a weather front collapsed in central Wyoming resulting in variable and shifting winds which contributed to increased fire activity along southeast portions of the Cosgrove Fire. The fire grew from 415 acres to approximately 900 acres as of this afternoon’s reconnaissance flight.
Yesterday evening Fire Managers made the decision to initiate firing operations to create a 300 foot “buffer zone” along portions of the fire ahead of the changing weather conditions. The operation was successful however due to the wind shifts, the firing operations were suspended until noon today when the winds stabilized and settled down.
The firing operations were resumed at lunchtime today and have been progressing nicely. Grand Junction Bureau of Land Management West Zone Fire Management Officer, FMO, Clay Fowler stated that “The fire is doing just what we wanted it to do. It is burning out the PJ (Pinyon-Juniper) at a slow, steady rate.”
The Grand Junction office of the Bureau of Land Management has established a good working relationship with THE FRIENDS OF THE MUSTANG (http://friendsofthemustangs.org/index.html), an organization established in 1982 dedicated to managing and monitoring the Little Bookcliffs wild horse herd.
Founding member Marty Felix “My only regret (with the Cosgrove Fire) is that the fire wasn’t at Monument Rock. That area has become so choked with P-J that there is almost no forage for the horses or wildlife.”
Ms. Felix went on to say that “I am very pleased that there is a fire up on the horse range because the Buffalo Wallow area has become a veritable jungle that needs to be cleared out.”
When asked if the fire was putting the mustangs under any undue stress or strain Ms. Felix laughed and stated, “Last Tuesday Billie Hutchins and I were observing various wild horse bands as part of our work on a fertility control study. We were following a band of horses that were heading towards the Low Gap campground. They were having zero problem with the smoke or the fire but were startled when they topped a rise and came upon all of the fire engines and personnel at the camp. The band took off into the woods and by the time they re-emerged in a meadow they had calmed down and resumed their journey.”
Marty concluded her telephone interview by stating that the fire should open a large area of land and provide additional forage for the horses and wildlife.
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Thursday, Aug. 1 1, 2011 - 10:00 AM
Contact: Norm Rooker, Fire Information Officer, 970 316-0000
Note to media: We will keep the Fire Media Information Line updated as we
receive new information: 970 244-3104.
BLM closes Round Mountain Road
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Cosgrove Fire Management Team is closing the back country road from Low Gap East to the public. This action is being taken for firefighter and public safety.
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Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011
Contact: Norm Rooker, Public Information Officer, 970 316-0000
Note to media: We will keep the Fire Media Information Line updated as we
receive new information: 970 244-3104.
Management efforts for Cosgrove Fire Progressing Well
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Cosgrove Fire which is burning in the remote Little Bookcliffs Wilderness Study Area 8 miles north of Grand Junction has grown a 100 acres over the past two days to approximately 400 acres as of 10:30 this morning. The fire, which is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, is being “managed” vs. “fought” by area wildfire resources.
Fighting a fire means attempting to contain it and put it out. Fire management on the other hand utilizes fire as a tool to clear out heavy underbrush and dangerous fuel loads to allow nature to get back into “balance”. For almost seven decades Pinyon-Juniper has been allowed to grow/invade the area unchecked, pushing out wild grasses and Sage brush which is the primary forage for wild horses and wildlife.
The Bureau of Land Management’s strategy for this natural caused fire is to allow it clear out some of the Pinyon-Juniper stands to allow for the regrowth of wild grasses and sage brush while simultaneously protecting existing forage areas and ensuring the fire does not move onto private lands or threaten any structures.
Incident Commander Winslow Robertson reported that last night’s warm temperatures combined with today’s winds kept the fire moving at a steady rate with brief flare ups in the tops of the trees, crown fire, and short runs on the ground before settling back down. Helicopter water drop operations continued during parts of today to keep the fire in check along the northern & western fire boundaries. Water loading operations for the Sikorsky Sky Crane are taking place at the north end of De Beque Canyon on the Colorado River.
According to today’s weather briefing from the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center (http://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc ) there is a dry, unstable air mass over northwestern Colorado and Wyoming being influenced by an area of low pressure moving in from the Pacific Northwest. This will result in temperatures in the upper 80’s & 90’s and increasing winds up to 25 mph as early as tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon. The fire’s smoke plume, which can be seen from Grand Junction, may create smoky conditions along portions of I-70 towards Rifle, CO.
Along the southern and southwestern sides of the fire the Hotshot (hand) crew assisted by two heavy and one light fire engine and a helitach crew continued working preparing sections southwest of the fire for a possible firing operation A firing operation would only be initiated to establish a buffer zone between the fire and Mustang forage areas to the west and southwest of the fire if the fire should shift direction and head towards them.
While the Cosgrove Fire’s actual location is a mere 8 miles north of Grand Junction, it is in an area so rugged and remote that it takes over 3 hours to reach by a series of primitive, frequently just two track, back roads. Supplies for the crews in the field are trucked in once a day by a four wheel drive vehicle. Each evening a hot dinner and the next day’s cold breakfast and lunch are flown into the hard working crews before dark.
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Aug. 9, 2011
Contact: Norm Rooker, Public Information Officer, 970 316-0000
Note to media: We will keep the Fire Media Information Line updated as we
receive new information: 970 244-3104. Feel free to call me at the number above
as well.
Cosgrove Fire burning in remote area north of Grand Junction
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The 350-acre Cosgrove Fire is burning in the remote Little Books Cliffs Wilderness Study Area 8 miles north of Grand Junction. The fire is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike.
Because this is a naturally caused fire in a remote and difficult area to access by ground and no structures are currently threatened a decision was made to allow it to burn. While there are a number of oil and gas wells in the area, they are all currently shut down. This remote area is part of the winter forage area for the Little Book Cliffs wild horse herd. The area burning is made up of primarily Pinyon-Juniper fuel. The area treated by this wildfire will quickly regrow with grasses that make up the herd’s winter forage.
“The reality is this fire can do a lot of good for the habitat,” said Wayne Werkmeister, Associate Manager for the Bureau of Land Management’s Grand Junction Field Office. “Our overall goal is to stay out of Mather Nature’s way while making sure that enough forage remains to get the herd through the year.”
To achieve this a Type 3 Fire Management Team has been assembled to manage the fire, which may grow up to a thousand acres or more by this weekend, to the east and south. The goal is to protect current forage areas while burning out the Pinyon-Juniper that has encroached into the former forage areas so that they can regrow back to the wild grasslands they used to be.
This will create an active smoke plume that may be seen from Grand Junction and Interstate 70. With the westerly winds forecast for the next three days it may create smoky conditions along I-70 towards Rifle, CO.
Current resources assigned to the fire include: two water dropping helicopters, a Hotshot (hand) crew, two light fire engines, a heavy fire engine, a pair of water tenders, a Helitach crew and a pair of Smokejumpers. Additional support and overhead management resources are being brought in as needed.
Incident Commander Winslow Robertson stated that today’s aerial water drops were very effective and the fire activity on the north and west sides, which were threatening existing forage areas, have laid down nicely.
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Aug. 8, 2011 4 p.m.
Contact: David Boyd, UCR Public Information Officer, 970 319-4130
Note to media: We will keep the Fire Media Information Line updated as we
receive new information: 970 244-3104. Feel free to call me at the number above
as well.
Fire managers continue to monitor Cosgrove Fire
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Cosgrove Fire continues to burn in the remote Little Books Cliffs Wilderness Study Area 8 miles north of Grand Junction. It was mapped today at 300 acres.
The fire is not currently threatening any structures. Fire managers are closely monitoring this fire, which is burning in pinyon-juniper on Bureau of Land Management lands.
The lightning-ignited fire is not being suppressed at this time to allow it to play its natural, beneficial role.
The fire was active today and smoke has been intermittently visible from Grand Junction and Interstate 70.
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Aug. 7, 2011
Contact: David Boyd, UCR Public Information Officer, 970 319-4130
Note to media: We will keep the Fire Media Information Line updated as we
receive new information: 970 244-3104. Feel free to call me at the number above
as well.
Cosgrove Fire burning in remote area north of Grand Junction
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The 30-acre Cosgrove Fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management land in the remote Little Books Cliffs Wilderness Study Area 8 miles north of Grand Junction.
No structures are currently threatened by this fire. The fire is active and a large plume of smoke is visible from Grand Junction and Interstate 70.
Fire managers are currently flying over the fire to determine the most effective management approach. Currently no firefighters or other resources are on the ground at this fire, which is burning in on a rugged pinyon-juniper covered ridge.
Although the specific cause is not yet known, its location suggests a lightning hold-over from storms over the past several days.
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July 26, 2011 4 p.m.
Contact: Tom Alvarez, UCR Public Information Officer, 970 210-2126
David Boyd, UCR Public Information Officer, 970 319-4130
Note to media: The latest wildlife information is available at 970 244-3104.
This number also includes the name and contact information for the on-call
fire information officer.
Kannah Creek Fire contained
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The 42-acre Kannah Creek Fire 40 miles southeast of Grand Junction is now 100 percent contained.
A local firefighter crew will continue to monitor the fire over the next several days.
The lightning-ignited fire burned on National Forest and City of Grand Junction-owned land on Sunday. The area had not received lightning for several days, but it is not uncommon for lightning strikes to start fires days after the actual strike.
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July 25, 2011 6 p.m.
Contact: David Boyd, UCR Public Information Officer, 970 319-4130
Tom Alvarez, UCR Public Information Officer, 970 210-2126
Note to media: We will keep the Fire Media Information Line updated as we
receive new information: 970 244-3104. Feel free to call me at the number above
as well.
Kannah Creek Fire doesn’t grow, full containment
expected tomorrow
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The 42-acre Kannah Creek Fire 40 miles southeast of Grand Junction did not grow today, and fire officials have elected to fully contain the fire.
The fire was given the opportunity to grow today on National Forest lands on the north and east flanks to help reduce fuel and improve forest health, but fire activity was minimal. With increasing moist air expected over the region, the potential for the fire to grow further over the next week is low.
With about 125 firefighting personal and two helicopters currently working the fire, fire officials decided this evening to go ahead and secure fire line around the entire perimeter. Full containment is expected tomorrow, and the fire is not expected to grow further.
Fire officials have flexibility in managing lightning-ignited fires such as this one. When the fire actively burned on Sunday, firefighters worked to keep its spread onto City of Grand Junction-owned lands to a minimum, but did not take suppression actions on the north and east flanks. This allowed fire to play its natural, beneficial role on National Forest lands.
Kannah Creek Trail, Carson Lake, Deep Creek Trail and Drop Off Point Trail remain closed as firefighters continue to work the fire.
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July 25, 2011 Noon
Contact: David Boyd, UCR Public Information Officer, 970 319-4130
Note to media: We will keep the Fire Media Information Line updated as we
receive new information: 970 244-3104. Feel free to call me at the number above
as well.
Fire activity expected to increase this afternoon on Kannah Creek Fire
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Firefighters expect fire activity on the Kannah Creek Fire burning 40 miles southeast of Grand Junction to increase significantly as the day’s temperature increases and the humidity drops.
The 42-acre fire is burning on National Forest and City of Grand-owned land. The approximately 125 firefighters and personnel are working to keep the fire from spreading to on the western and southern flanks. They want to keep it from burning additional City land and to keep it north of Kannah Creek. They are being assisted by a heavy helicopter and a light helicopter.
Fire officials will allow the fire to burn additional acres on National Forest lands to the north and east, but will be closely monitoring it’s activity in these areas. This will help reduce the hazardous build-up of vegetation, create natural fire breaks, and improve wildlife habitat. No structures are currently threatened by this fire.
An increase in moisture is expected to return to the area beginning tomorrow, which will likely lessen the fire activity after today.
Kannah Creek Trail, Carson Lake, Deep Creek Trail and Drop Off Point Trail are currently closed due to the fire activity.
The fire is believed to be a lightning-ignited fire. The area has not received lightning for several days, but it is not uncommon for lightning strikes to start fires days after the actual strike.
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June 28, 2011
Contacts: David Boyd, (970) 876-9008
Pat Thrasher, 970-945-3237 (office), 970-366-0039 (cell)
Lee Ann Loupe, 970-874-6717
Note to media: The Upper Colorado River Fire Management Unit maintains a recorded
fire information line for media which is updated at least daily with the
latest fire activity as well as contact information for the on-call information
officer: (970) 244-3104.
Hot temperatures increasing fire danger for Fourth weekend
SILT, Colo. – The hot temperatures the Western Slope is experiencing this week are drying vegetation and increasing the fire danger ahead of the Fourth of July weekend.
Fire officials urge the public to be careful and thoughtful with campfires and fireworks this weekend. While high elevations are still snowed in, vegetation in the lower elevations of the Colorado River Valley is rapidly drying out.
“Conditions are not so extreme to warrant restrictions on campfires on public land, but the danger is growing and we could easily have wildfires this weekend if people aren’t careful,” said Bill Hahnenberg, Fire Management Officer for the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit. “Enjoy yourself, but please be prudent with fire.”
Try to use established campfire rings provided at recreation areas, don’t leave a campfire unattended, and make sure your fire is cold to the touch before leaving the area.
The higher elevations won’t be free from risk this weekend either, as the Gulch Fire near Keystone demonstrated several weeks ago. That wildlife burned above 9,000 feet around large snow fields, but still burned 16 acres and threatened several residences.
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June 4, 2011, 7 p.m.
Contact: Tom Alvarez, Public Information Officer, 970 210-2126
David Boyd, Public Information Officer, 970 319-4130
Recorded media fire information line: 970 244-3104
Gulch Fire contained
Keystone, Colo. – The 16.6-acre Gulch Fire near the community of Keystone was declared 100 percent contained tonight. Fire crews will continue to work the area tomorrow morning. An engine will continue to monitor
the burned area tomorrow afternoon. Fire investigators determined that a powerline in the area ignited the fire during Thursday afternoon’s high winds. Approximately 75 firefighters worked the steep, rocky slopes east of
Keystone Gulch Road today. A heavy helicopter supported crews.
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June 4, 2011, 12 noon
Contact: Tom Alvarez, Public Information Officer, 970 210-2126
David Boyd, Public Information Officer, 970 319-4130
Recorded media fire information line: 970 244-3104
Gulch Fire perimeter doesn’t grow
Keystone, Colo. – The 16.6-acre Gulch Fire has not burned new ground since Thursday night. It does not currently pose any immediate threat to residents or buildings in the community of Keystone. Fire officials are asking the public to avoid Keystone Gulch Road this weekend due to firefighting activity in the area. Smoke seen in the local community is from large fires currently burning in the southwest.
Approximately 75 firefighters are currently working on the steep, rocky slopes east of Keystone Gulch Road mopping up remnants of the fire that began late Thursday afternoon. Crews are being supported by a heavy helicopter lifting supplies and equipment to personnel working amid the ashes and debris on top of the slope. The cause is still under investigation.
The fire is currently 30 percent contained and full containment is expected Sunday afternoon.
The Upper Colorado River Incident Management Team that assumed command of the fire last night is a combination of federal, state and local firefighters and specialists who are called to help manage larger, more complex wildfires throughout the Upper Colorado River Management Unit. Team members are based throughout the Upper Colorado River area, including locally based personnel from Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue and the White River National Forest.
The Upper Colorado River Management Unit encompasses more than 4.5 million acres oriented along the Interstate 70 corridor from the Continental Divide to the Utah state line.
-UCR-
April 15, 2011
Contacts: David Boyd, Public Information Officer, (970) 876-9008
Burns planned this spring in Eagle, Garfield counties
SILT, Colo. – Federal fire officials with the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management are planning two prescribed fires this spring in Eagle and Garfield counties to reduce fuel loads and improve wildlife habitat.
The 3,000-acre West Divide Prescribed Fire is primarily planned for lands administered by the White River National Forest about 12 miles south of Silt. The total also includes about 380 acres administered by the Bureau of Land Management. For more information about this burn, contact project lead Toni Toelle (970) 878-6011.
“Burning in oak brush and other mountain shrubs helps increase diversity of the vegetation while improving wildlife habitat on public land,” said Fuels Specialist Toni Toelle. “This burn will also reduces fuel loadings along the wildland-urban interface and increase safety for firefighters and the public.”
The 580-acre Deer Pen Prescribed Fire is planned on Bureau of Land Management lands in Eagle County 1.5 miles southeast of Burns, Colo., in oak brush and mountain shrub. For information about this burn, call project lead Ody Anderson, (970) 876-9030.
Prescribed fires follow a carefully developed burn plan, and fire officials will wait for the right combinations of weather conditions and moisture in the vegetation before beginning these burns. They expect the ideal conditions to occur sometime between mid-April and mid-May. The burns will only be initiated if conditions are ideal for a safe and effective fire.
“We look for weather conditions favorable for smoke dispersal to minimize
impacts to area residents,” said Fuels Specialist Ody Anderson. “Still,
anyone in the area with health conditions that could be affected by smoke should
give us a call.”
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Jan. 21, 2011
Contact: David Boyd, BLM Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 876-9008
Ody Anderson, Fuels Specialist, (970) 876-9030
Smoke to be visible from work protecting Pitkin County communication site
SILT, Colo. – Smoke may be visible as early as next week from much of the Roaring Fork Valley as crews from Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management begin burning slash piles generated from a joint Bureau of Land Management/Pitkin County fuels reduction project. The project is designed to protect a critical communication site on the Crown.
Pitkin County worked closely with the Bureau of Land Management when it installed its state-of-the-art communication tower last spring on the Crown, a well-known area south of El Jebel, Colo.
To help protect this critical emergency infrastructure from wildfire, Pitkin County cleared oak brush and mountain shrubs and reduced ladder fuels on pine and fir trees in the area. The resulting slash was placed into more than 150 piles and allowed to dry over the summer.
“Crews working for the County did a great job clearing the brush and shrubs in a mosaic pattern that retains some of the natural ‘clumping,’” said BLM Fuels Specialist Ody Anderson. “This brings the benefit of greater protection for the communication equipment from wildfire while improving wildlife habitat and reducing visual impact.”
Firefighters from Upper Colorado River Fire Management will burn piles when weather conditions are favorable to lift smoke out of the area and when moisture in adjacent vegetation is at acceptable levels to prevent spread. Burning could begin as early as next week and potentially continue through March.
Smoke from the Crown will likely be seen for short periods from Carbondale, El Jebel, Basalt and Emma. Some drift smoke could affect homeowners for a short period of time. Anyone with health conditions that may be affected by short durations of smoke should contact Ody Anderson at (970) 876-9030.
Reducing the continuous stands of brush helps reduce the wildfire threat as well as improve firefighter and public safety. The work stimulates new growth of grasses, forbs and shrubs that greatly enhances wildlife habitat.
The piles will be burned under the authority of an approved burn plan and smoke permit.
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