WILDFIRE UPDATE 6/26/12 8:30 pm
Current information on the Weber Fire, Stateline Fire and the 151 Chimney Rock Fire is below. We will continue to update information on these fires as we receive it from the Incident Management Team. Please check back here for updates and tune in to KSUT for updates as we receive them.
Weber Fire Updates
June 26, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Contact: Beth Hermanson, Public Information Officer Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team C
www.inciweb.org
Phone Number: 605-381-7232
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Preparations for Burnout Operations Continue
Firefighters were able to make progress today on the Weber Fire which has increased to 20% containment.
Burnout operations around critical communication towers on the north end of the fire are proving successful. Firefighters will continue prepping the southern portion of the fire perimeter in preparation to complete burnout operations over the next few nights. The rough and steep rock faces on the southern line do not allow for direct attack on the fire perimeter by ground forces.
Residents and visitors should expect to see and smell smoke over the next several days. If health issues are experienced, residents are advised to stay indoors.
Mop-up and cold-trailing will continue as the containment lines are extended. Cold-trailing is a tactic by which firefighters actually remove their gloves and put their hands on ashes to test for heat.
Deputy Incident Commander Jay Esperance reports that possible thunder storms over the next couple of days could result in increased fire behavior due to strong gusty winds and lightening. Because of the weather forecast and dry fuels within the fire, potential for continued fire growth is high.
Beginning Tuesday morning, new phone numbers for the call center will be (720) 425-5018 or (720) 219-8823. Fire information officers will be available to answer questions from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
A walk-in information center opens Tuesday at the Mancos Community Center at 130 Grand in Mancos between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Anyone wanting to view updated fire perimeter maps and meet with information personnel one-to-one are encouraged to stop by and visit.
Eleven a.m. community meetings are currently cancelled, although the evening meetings at 7:30 p.m. will continue at the Mancos High School Performing Arts Center.
Mandatory evacuations remain in effect, along with road closures. All inquires relating to the evacuations should be directed to the Montezuma County Sheriff's office at (970) 564-4996 or (970) 564-4999.
Information about this and other fires can be found at www.inciweb.org. Follow us on Twitter @weberfireinfo.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 8 a.m.
Weber Fire Crews Made Progress Overnight
Key Facts as of 8:00 a.m.
- Burn-out operations were successful last night around a vital communication site.
- Archeologists are working with fire personnel to ensure the protection of cultural resources.
- Fire size is estimated at 8,930 acres, with 15 percent containment. The ownership breakdown is 6,990 acres on BLM, 619 acres of state land, and 1,321 acres of private land.
Mancos, CO
Mandatory evacuations are still in effect for:
- Elk Spring Ranch Subdivision,
- Elk Stream Subdivision,
- Subdivision on County Road 41, located south and east of the Mancos Cemetery
- Subdivision located south of Highway 160 and east of County Road 41
Evacuation advisories remain in place for Echo Basin, County Road L, County Road 44, and the south side of Mancos.
Highway 160 remains open as well as Mesa Verde National Park. The following road closures are in effect:
- County Road G at County Road 41
- County Road J at County Road 41
- County Road 46 at Highway 160
These road closures keep the area clear for firefighting resources.
The San Juan National Forest, Dolores Ranger District has issued a forest closure for the area within Forest Road 316 to its terminus, then following the Montezuma County/La Plata County line Boundary west to its junction with the Mancos-Dolores/Columbine Ranger District Boundary, then south along the Mancos-Dolores/Columbine Ranger District Boundary to the San Juan National Forest Boundary and then east along the San Juan National Forest Boundary to its junction with Forest Road 316.
Last night crews were able to make good progress on the fire with the increased humidity and lower temperatures. Firefighters worked to clear and burn the fuels around a communication site on the north end of the fire to reduce the probability of the fire damaging these vital towers. Burn-out operations will continue through the next several nights. The night time hours are the most favorable to perform these operations.
Today’s plan is to continue to protect and mop up around structures and construct and improve containment lines. Weather conditions will continue to be similar to yesterday’s but with an increased chance of dry thunderstorms late in the day. Winds will continue to be generally out of the southwest. Fire management is preparing contingency plans as a precaution due to the predicted weather, difficult terrain, and abundant dry fuels.
The fire is on land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, Tres Rios Field Office.
DAILY UPDATE: Weber Fire
June 25, 2012, 7 p.m.
www.inciweb.org
Weber Fire is 10 Percent Contained
Key Facts as of 7:00 p.m.
· Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team C, remains in command of the Weber Fire
· Fire size is estimated at 8,300 acres, with 10 percent containment.
· Personnel assigned to the fire is now estimated at 295
· The fire is on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management
Mancos, CO
Existing mandatory evacuations are still in effect. No new evacuation orders have been issued since morning report. For further information contact the Montezuma County Sheriff's Department at 564-9999 or 564-4999.
Evacuation advisories remain in place for Echo Basin, County Road L, County Road 44, and the south side of Mancos.
Road closures keep the area clear for incoming firefighting resources within the fire perimeter.
The following road closures are in effect:
· County Road G at County Road 41
· County Road J at County Road 41
· County Road 46 at Highway 160
Today fire activity remained high, although the winds were less than originally forecast. As a result, crews were able to achieve 10 percent containment today. The fire will be mapped tonight to determine the current acreage. Overnight, crews burned out the west perimeter of the fire. Today, in addition to protecting structures and communication sites, crews constructed, improved, and mopped-up line. Overnight, crews will continue constructing and improving line.
6/25/12 10:30 am
· Fire size is estimated at 8,300 acres, with no containment.
· Incident personnel assigned to the fire are now estimated at 164.
Mancos, CO- San Juan District of the Bureau of Land Management has brought in Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team C with Joe Lowe, Incident Commander. This Type II team assumed command of the Weber Fire as of 6:00 p.m. Sunday, 6/24/12. Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office issued a mandatory evacuation for the County Road J49 and Highway 160 area on Sunday, 6/24/12 at about 6 p.m. Evacuation advisories have been issued for County Road 41 south and east of Mancos, the Elk Springs Ranch and Elk Stream subdivisions, and other residences south of Highway 160, east of Co. Rd. 41. Residents are strongly encouraged to leave for their own safety as well as the safety of firefighters. Road closures have been put in effect to keep the area clear for incoming firefighting resources within the fire perimeter.
The following road closures are in effect:
· County Road G at County Road 41
· County Road J at County Road 41
· County Road 46 at Highway 160
Today the Weber Fire is expected to continue actively burning. Residential areas and three communications sites continue to be threatened. Although the Red Flag Warning for high fire danger has been lifted, weather conditions continue to be favorable for very active fire behavior, with southwest winds forecasted. The fire will also be burning residual pockets of fuel within the fire perimeter.
With multiple large fires burning in the western United States, fire resources continue to be in short supply. Additional firefighters are on order and will be arriving, some from other regions of the country. Airplanes and helicopters are being shared with other fires, too. Helicopters are dropping water and single engine air tankers (SEATs) will apply retardant to protect structures and other resources, and to check the fire spread.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
www.inciweb.org for regular updates on the Weber Fire and other wildfires burning across the country.
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STATELINE FIRE This is the Final Update from the Durango Interagency Dispatch Center, released Tuesday, June 26, 8:30pm
Firefighters made good progress on the State Line Fire today and the fire is now 80% contained. There was no new growth; the fire size remains at 350 acres. The Type 3 Team will transition the fire to a Type 4 incident commander and smaller organization tomorrow. One 20-person crew and two engines will remain on scene to complete containment of the fire and continue mopping-up. The estimated cost to date is $381,000.
Two 20-person crews will be released and reassigned. One crew will be assigned to the Weber Fire and the other 20-person crew will be assigned to initial attack on new fire starts within the Durango Zone.
Contact: Pam Wilson, Public Information Officer, 970-799-1149.
June 26, 2012, 10:00 a.m.
Monday was a fairly quiet day on the State Line Fire. There were no flare-ups, which allowed firefighters to make good progress on line construction and improvement. The fire size remains at 350 acres and is now 60% contained. Crews will continue to improve the line and begin mop-up operations. Several engines and a helicopter are available to provide structure protection and assist firefighters as needed.
The San Juan Hotshots were released Monday evening and reassigned to the Weber Fire. There are approximately 150 personnel on the fire, including three 20-person crews, five engines, one helicopter, and overhead personnel.
The pre-evacuation notice has been lifted.
Contact: Pam Wilson, Public Information Officer, 970-799-1149.
6/25/12 8:30 pm
STATELINE FIRE: No change in acreage or containment from earlier this afternoon. Fire Information Officer Pam Wilson reports that efforts went well today, and she will put out a news release in the morning.
6/25/2012 2:10 pm
Stateline Fire near Bondad is now 50% contained. 140 personnel, 10 engines, and Type I helicopter working the fire. San Juan Type III Team in place. Focus is holding and improving the lines and beginning mop up. No new evacuations but previous pre-evacuation notices remain in place (southern 3 miles of La Posta Rd). Cause under investigation. Information Line available now at 970 799-1179.
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151 Fire (Chimney Rock) www.acemergency.org
6/25/2012, 8:30 pm
151 FIRE: Just after 7 p.m., Durango Interagency Fire Dispatch reported that firefighting crews have called the 151 Fire south of Chimney Rock Archaeological Area contained and controlled at 10 areas, all on private property. The fire was ignited about 2 p.m. by a downed power line in Cabezon Canyon about 2 miles south of Colo. Hwy 151. Quick response by air support and ground crews has proven successful. No other details available at this time; more to come.
6/25/2012, 3:30 pm
A new fire, reported about 2 pm today, was started by a downed power line in Cabezon Canyon about 2 miles south of Colo Hwy 151 and has prompted the evacuation of Chimney Rock Archaeological Area. A single engine airtanker, helicopters, engines responding. The fire is approximately 1 acre is size but is making a run, burning in pinon/juniper and oakbrush. EVACULATION OF CHIMNEY ROCK ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA HAS BEEN ORDERED. 3 homes currently threatened.
