© 2024 KSUT Public Radio
NPR News and Music Discovery for the Four Corners
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

West Fork Fire West Update -- June 26, 2013, 8:00 AM

Special Message: Several fire information meetings will be held over the next several days. 

Del Norte: Daily briefing at the Red Cross Shelter in Del Norte at 9 am

Lake City: Wednesday, June 26 at 2:00 pm at the Armory

Pagosa Springs:  Saturday June 29, 2013 at 1:00 pm at the Community Center

Current Situation:

East Zone of the West Fork Complex (Includes Papoose and Eastern Part of West Fork Fires) 

Papoose Fire:  Fire activity increased on the northwest flank of the fire last night about shift change.  The fire has burned down into Crooked Creek, and firefighters from both shifts worked diligently to protect structures as the fire pushed into the area.  The night shift resources continued to work in this area through the night and as of this morning there is no known structure loss.  Today firefighters will continue to provide structure protection in the Crooked Creek area and will mop up along Highway 149. 

Eastern Part of West Fork Fire: On the southeast flank, along Highway 160, aerial resources will continue to keep the fire north of the highway.  On the northeast side, near Sentinel Peak, firefighters will continue to improve the dozer line that is in place to minimize the chances of the fire reaching South Fork.  Near Lake Humphreys and Metroz Lake, crews will continue to provide structure protection.  Along Highway 149, structure protection continues on both sides of the highway.    

West Zone of West Fork Complex (Includes Western Part of West Fork and Windy Pass Fires)

There was minimal fire growth in the West Zone yesterday.  There were some flare-ups in pockets of unburned bug-killed spruce and continued smoldering ground fires in the heavy dead fuels. Most of this activity was interior to the existing fire perimeter.  With the high pressure moving in expect smoke to linger in the valleys longer during the morning.

Western Part of West Fork Fire:  The West Zone of the West Fork fire is the portion of the fire burning south of the continental divide. Yesterday there was spotty fire activity on the south flank of the fire above Borns Lake and the fire made a short run burning in bug-killed spruce up a drainage interior to the fire perimeter.  Structure protection sprinklers are installed at Bruce Spruce Resort and fire fighters will be evaluating and implementing structure protection needs for additional structures on West Fork Road today.  Portions of the sprinkler system at Borns Lake were run yesterday to increase humidity and fuel moisture around the Borns lake structures.

Windy Pass Fire:  Activity on the Windy Pass Fire yesterday was minimal.  Windy Pass fire only grew by 26 acres, going from 1,355 acres to 1,381.  With the decrease in wind intensity the immediate threat to Wolf Pass Ski Area has diminished.  Fire managers are looking at possibly putting in a line with retardant to check the fire spread to the east today or tomorrow.

Weather:  High pressure will keep skies mostly sunny and winds below the ridge tops throughout the day.  With the lack of strong winds, smoke will linger in the valleys this morning.  Winds are predicted to be out of the northwest at 5-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph.  The chance of thunderstorms will increase through the week.

Evacuations and Closures:  No additional closures or evacuations have been issued.  Local traffic from Creede is being escorted between Wagon Wheel Gap and Highway 160. 

Highway 160 from the chain-up area to South Fork remains closed.  Visit www.cotrip.org/roadConditions.htm for more information.

For additional information on road and trail closures affecting the San Juan National Forest go to: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices

For additional information on road and trail closures affecting the Rio Grande National Forest go to: West Fork Fire Closures.

Media Briefings:  The last scheduled media briefing will be held today, June 26 at 9 am at Centennial Park in Del Norte.  If media are interested in a briefing or interview, please contact the East Zone Information Office.

Fire Statistics: 

Location:  14.5 miles north/northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO                 Start Date: 06/05/2013

Complex Size:  81,331 acres                                                                 Percent Contained: 0%

Windy Pass: 1,381 acres                                                            Cause:  Lightning

   Papoose: 25,236 acres                                                                Total Personnel: 1187

   West Fork: 54,714 acres                                                                                               

                                                                                               

Resources Include: 7 Type 1 hand crews, 18 Type 2 hand crews, 85 engines, 2 dozer, 6 water tenders, and

overhead personnel

Air Resources:  5 Type 1 helicopters, 3 Type 2 helicopters, and 6 Type 3 helicopters

 

Places to get information:

Website: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3436/

Twitter: @rmt1pio

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtn.Type1.IMT.PIOs.

Information Boards:  Information is posted at the Pagosa Springs Visitor Information Center, Freemons Ranch near Creede, the Forest Service office in Creede, and at the Red Cross Shelter in Del Norte. 

Photos:   http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/WestForkComplex/library/