Official Thread for all 2019 Colorado Fire Season Topics

[Mike from back east]

Fire wrecked some of the TOWN of Moffat the other day. The fire was right across the street from the fire department but the article tells us the town has no fire hydrants and water had to be trucked in. Good grief.

[SkyDog77]

One of the shortest (best) Fire season threads ever!

[jim9251]

Cow Creek Fire Update
Delta, Colorado, October 18, 2019 8:45 a.m.
Nate Siemers, Incident Commander
Justin Reece, Incident Commander (T)
Summary: The Cow Creek Fire experienced moderate fire activity on Thursday afternoon. Activity was driven by winds with gusts up to 25 miles per hour. These gusts drove embers from the main body of the fire igniting three spot fires at the western base of Courthouse Mountain. The spot fires are approximately 50 acres in size combined. These ignitions are within the identified containment area of the fire and poses no threat to values at risk. The fire has grown to 655 acres over the last 24 hours.
On Thursday night, GMUG fire officials ordered a Type 2 Incident Management Team from the Rocky Mountain Geographical Coordination Center. Type 2 teams are federal national response units that bring experienced management and support to emerging and complex incidents. Upon arrival, the team will assume responsibility for all operations concerning the Cow Creek Fire.
Access to the Cow Creek Fire remains a safety concern for assigned fire crews. Rugged terrain combined with dry fuels have caused crews to adopt an indirect confine and contain suppression strategy. Firefighters spent Thursday identifying and constructing contingency lines in areas where predictive models have shown a potential for fire spread. These lines, using existing natural and manmade features, will help contain the fire in the event of rapid spread. On Friday, crews are expected to continue confine and containment operations.
Fire Weather: On Friday, forecasts show scattered showers throughout the morning into the afternoon with temperatures in the low to high 40s and minimum humidity ranging from 42-47%. There will be moderate southwestern winds, with strong gusts, that will shift to steady, western winds during the late morning and eventually northwest in the afternoon. Smoke from the fire could be present in Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Ouray, Gunnison, Saguache, San Miguel, Hinsdale, Garfield and Eagle counties.
Closures: Forest Service Roads: Owl Creek Pass Road (FSR 858) from the forest boundary up to Owl Creek Pass), Cow Creek Road (FSR 857) and West Fork Road (FSR 860) from Owl Creek Pass.
Forest Service Trails (FST): Stealey Mountain South Trail (FST 258), Courthouse Trail (FST 218), Stealey Mountain North Trail (FST 219), Old Owl Creek Trail (FST 236), Cow Creek Trail (FST 220), Wetterhorn Basin Trail (FST 226), Spalding Park Trail (FST 237), FST 219.1B, 236.1B, 236.1A, and 144.
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs): TFRs are in place around the fire perimeter to provide for the safety of firefighting aircraft and crews on the ground. Unauthorized use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, by the public is prohibited near active wildfires. If you fly, we can’t. Fire Restrictions: There are currently no fire restrictions in place. Campers and hunters are reminded to never leave a campfire unattended and to make sure it is completely out using the “drown, stir, feel” method before leaving an area. For more information on campfire safety visit: https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety
Public health info: Individuals with smoke sensitivities can find information on how to protect themselves at: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health. For a detailed daily air quality summary, visit: https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

Fire Statistics:
Size: 655 acres
Containment: 0%
Cause: Unknown – Currently under investigation
Fire Behavior: Group tree torching and crown runs
Total Personnel: 64
Jurisdiction: USFS – GMUG National Forests
Location: 9 miles east of Ridgway, south of Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain
Start Date: October 16, 2019


Middle Mamm Fire Summary
October 16, 2019
Moderate fire activity was driven by westerly wind gusts yesterday afternoon. Fire crews moved forward with mop up and holding operations where values could be at-risk. Aircraft were utilized to conduct bucket drops along the more active edges of the fire. Smoke was visible from the City of Rifle and along the I-70 corridor between Rifle and Glenwood Springs.
Today crews will continue to conduct patrol and mop up operations along the more active areas of the fire.
Fire Statistics:
Size: 1069 acres as of 10/15/2019
Containment: 23%
Total Personnel: 70
Cause: Lightning
Location: 10 miles south of Rifle, CO


Several other wildfires in Colorado go here for info https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

[Neditate]

Small fire near Lost Lake Trailhead and Gravel Mountain in the Arapaho National Forest was quickly contained today, thankfully. It's crispy dry and windy up here. Hoping for snow tonight!

[DOUBLE H]

That cold front and moisture couldn't come at a better time, been getting real dry. I came down Dallas Divide yesterday afternoon, you could see the fire east of Ridgway easily. That's a rugged area, damn tough to get into. It's a beautiful drive, Owl Creek Pass is, where you can get a tad closer to it. Some of the most beautiful mountains in the state are in that range, in particular Courthouse Mountain. Stands like a cathedral.

[coschristi]

Yeah, it is DRY here in the Springs. Have hiked up in Palmer Park every day this week & you can hear a mouse rustling in the grass 10 yards away.

I live across the street from Palmer Park right off Paseo street & have always felt it's been somewhat ignored by Wildfire Mitigation teams. The overgrowth is thick, the dry vegetation is half a foot deep on the ground & with some of the transient cave-dwellers up there the place will go up like a bonfire with just one stray spark.

I lived in a neighborhood that was misidentified on a FEMA map as commercially zoned & we never got the evacuation order during Waldo, despite being south of Garden of the Gods & at I-25. The commercial properties had already evacuated voluntarily the day before & nobody realized there were 300+ residential households there with only one road out & people were just waiting for the word 'go'.

I evacuated voluntarily with 3 little kids during the actual firestorm & had to turn on my windshield wipers to knock the falling, flaming debris off my car.

I am REALLY hoping to not have to go through anything like that again.