Author: comms

Spring Creek Fire July 3

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Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team Two

Date Reported: June 24, 2023
Cause: Under Investigation
Size: 2,932 acres
Containment: 37%
Total Personnel: 539
Location: Southwest of Parachute, CO

Current Situation: The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 will continue to prepare for critical fire weather conditions expected on Tuesday, July 4, including high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds. Firefighters’ efforts include patrolling and looking for hot spots inside the fire perimeter that could again become active with strong winds. Hand crews and heavy equipment will improve and expand hand and dozer lines already in place. One piece of equipment, a masticator, is similar to a wood chipper; it “chews up” heavy vegetation and trees, widening the fuel break.


The incident management team includes both its own incident meteorologist and a fire behavior analyst who work cooperatively to predict fire activity and growth based on weather, vegetation, topography, historical fire data, and other factors. Their contributions further assist the team with proactive and contingency planning.


Due to the weather forecast, the plan to ignite pockets of unburned dense vegetation in the NE corner of the fire (Division P on the map) was delayed yesterday. The intent of this action was to tie two spot fires into the main fire perimeter near the area where crews have been working with heavy equipment to build a substantial fire line.


Spring Creek Road and High Mesa Road are open to local traffic only. Please avoid these areas if possible and drive with caution with increase in fire personnel on the roadway.
Weather & Smoke Information: The weather is predicted to continue to be warm and dry. Light NW winds on Monday are expected to noticably increase on Tuseday with possible gusts up to 40 mph. Tuesday will likely bring the most critical fire weather conditions this area has seen since Monday, June 26 when the fire grew rapidly. Residents are asked to help reduce any new fire starts during the holiday’s Fire Weather Watch that would pull resources away from the Spring Creek Fire during this weather event.


Closures: Bureau of Land Management Colorado River Valley Field Office and US Forest Service White River National Forest have public land closure orders in place for the safety of public and firefighters.
Visit BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office and U.S. Forest Service – White River for closure orders.

Evacuations: There are no evacuations at this time. Residents are encouraged to register with Garfield County’s emergency notification system at: Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority. All evacuation orders will be conducted through the Sheriff’s office. Call recorded message line at 970-981-3401 for current evacuation information.


Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a TFR (FDC 3/0215) in place for air space over the Spring Creek Fire to reduce impacts to fire aviation operators. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or drones. If you fly, we can’t!


Fire Information Phoneline: (970) 414-1772 Time: 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Media inquiries: (970) 414-1665 Time: 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Facebook: Spring Creek Fire 2023
Email: 2023.springcreek@firenet.gov InciWeb: Spring Creek Fire Information

Spring Creek Fire July 3

GCSO: Missing juvenile in Garfield County

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Garfield County Sheriff’s Office

UPDATE: July 4, 3:57 pm – The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office reported that Ayla Weston was found and returned to her parents.

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO. –  The following description, information and picture was posted on the Garfield County, Colorado Sheriff’s Facebook page. Please post or share as soon as possible. Hopefully we can locate this person. Our sources indicate that she was last seen in Rifle/New Castle area. She was visiting a relative in Rifle, but originally was from the Craig area.

Ayla Marie Weston


Please Share!

Missing Juvenile 

If you have any information, please call the non-emergency dispatch number at 970-625-8095 and ask for the deputy on duty.

Name: Ayla Marie Weston

Age: 16 years

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 124 lbs.

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Brown Medium Length

Last Seen: 7/1/2023 at 7 pm in Rifle, CO.

Last Seen Wearing: Black Crop Top, Black/Grey Checkered Sweats, Black Vans, Belly Piercing

Potentially between Rifle and New Castle. 

All assistance in this matter is appreciated.

GCSO: Missing juvenile in Garfield County

Spring Creek Fire – July 2

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Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team Two

Top of Div Z a view from Crane Valley Interagency Hotshot Crew as they crest the ridge

Top of Div Z a view from Crane Valley Interagency Hotshot Crew as they crest the ridge – pictures above and below

Top of Div Z a view from Crane Valley Interagency Hotshot Crew as they crest the ridge

July 2 Spring Creek Fire map
July 2 map of Spring Creek Fire

Indirect dozer line from Div P photo credit Mark Abrahamson HEQB

Indirect dozer line from Div P photo credit Mark Abrahamson HEQB

Indirect dozer line from Div P photo credit Mark Abrahamson HEQB

Afternoon operational update from the field July 2, 2023:

Crews are making great progress on both direct and indirect line.

In Division Z crews are working direct and in the black securing the line and looking for hot spots to extinguish.

In Division P crews continue to work on dozer line and clearing vegetation for the indirect line.

July 2 Spring Creek Fire briefing video

Today’s operational update from the Rocky Mountain Critical Incident Management Team 2.

Jeramy Dietz, Planning Operations Section Chief Trainee, delivers today’s operations plan and coordination with the Incident Meteorologist (IMET) and Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN).

July 2, 2023
Jared Hohn, Incident Commander
Date Reported: June 24, 2023 Cause: Under Investigation Size: 2,925 acres Containment: 25%
Total Personnel: 521
Location: Southwest of Parachute, CO
Current Situation: The Spring Creek Fire experienced minimal growth yesterday.


Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 2 continued improving containment lines. While the percentage of containment remained about the same, firefighters are making good progress on the work of strengthening and connecting sections of fireline. Making sure the fireline is secure is especially important because there is a Red Flag Weather Warning predicted for July 4th. Fire managers are looking at the predicted conditions and are modeling fire behavior so they are prepared to deal with the likely conditions. The varied fuels and extreme terrain still present substantial challenges. Today firefighters will continue work to gain more containment around the fire, cool hot spots along the edge, cut snags that may carry fire across the lines if they fell, and strengthen current fireline. Crews may possibly ignite some pockets of unburned fuel in areas of dense vegetation to provide a wider barrier if weather conditions allow. Providing for firefighter safety is always a primary priority, but fire managers and firefighters are even more aware of the gravity of their work today, National Wildland Firefighter Day.
Spring Creek Road and High Mesa Road are open to local traffic only. Please avoid these areas if possible and drive with caution with increase in fire personnel on the roadway.

Weather & Smoke Information: The weather is predicted to continue to be warm and dry with clear skies for the next two days. Light NW winds of 5-10 mph are predicted. Overnight humidity recovery is expected to be poor causing the fire to become more active earlier in the day, but no significant movement is expected today. By Tuesday, the weather is predicted to grow warmer and much windier creating near critical fire weather conditions. The Spring Creek Fire is producing smoke that may affect air quality.

For information on current air quality and related health concerns, visit Garfield County air quality or AirNow.


Closures: Bureau of Land Management Colorado River Valley Field Office and US Forest Service White River National Forest have public land closure orders in place for the safety of public and firefighters.
Visit BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office and U.S. Forest Service – White River for closure orders.


Evacuations: There are no evacuations at this time. Residents are encouraged to register with Garfield County’s emergency notification system at: Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority. All evacuation orders will be conducted through the Sheriff’s office. Call recorded message line at 970-981-3401 for current evacuation information.


Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a TFR (FDC 3/0215) in place for air space over the Spring Creek Fire to reduce impacts to fire aviation operators. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or drones. If you fly, we can’t!


Fire Information Phoneline: (970) 414-1772 Time: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Facebook: Spring Creek Fire 2023 Email: 2023.springcreek@firenet.gov InciWeb: Spring Creek Fire Information

Spring Creek Fire – July 2

Spring Creek Fire update July 1

comms,

Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team Two

July 1 Spring Creek Fire briefing
Spring Creek Fire Facebook video briefing

July 1, 2023
Jared Hohn, Incident Commander
Date Reported: June 24, 2023
Cause: Under Investigation
Size: 2,921 acres
Containment: 24% Total
Personnel: 523
Location: Southwest of Parachute, CO

Current Situation: Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 2 continues to focus firefighting efforts on limiting the spread of the fire. Working to fully suppress this fire requires a variety of firefighting methods to address the varied fuels and extreme terrain while providing for firefighter safety. On the west side of the fire, firefighters have been able to increase containment to 24% by creating handline adjacent to the fire’s edge. On the north side of the fire, the terrain is more difficult, preventing firefighters from being able to work along the edge where steep slopes create a high potential for burning logs to roll downhill and ignite fires below the line. To contain the fire there, firefighters have connected a handline to the Dry Creek Road. To help that road act as a fire barrier, firefighters are removing brush and depleting flammable materials along the road. On the northeast corner, the oak scrub brush is very thick, making the best tactic to use bulldozers to build line in that area. On the south side, the extremely steep terrain makes aerial water drops the best tactic for cooling the fire. Fire managers will continue to adapt their suppression strategy to best suit the varied conditions. Additional future tactics may include burning out areas of unburned fuel during good weather conditions to further secure the fire’s edge. The fire had no growth yesterday. Crews continue to work overnight to prevent fire spread. Fire crews are placing hose lines and water tanks for structure protection in Wallace and Dry Creek areas that could be impacted by the fire.

Spring Creek Road and High Mesa Road are open to local traffic only. Please avoid these areas if possible and drive with caution with increase in fire personnel on the roadway.

Weather & Smoke Information: The weather is predicted to remain fairly stable, warm, and dry for the next few days. Light NW winds of 5-15 mph are expected. Overnight an inversion developed on the fire keeping it cool this morning. As the day warms up, that will burn off and the fire will become more active, but no significant activity is expected. By Tuesday, the weather is predicted to grow warmer and windier. The Spring Creek Fire is producing smoke that may affect air quality. For information on current air quality and related health concerns, visit garfield-county.com/air-quality or fire.airnow.gov.

Closures: Bureau of Land Management Colorado River Valley Field Office and US Forest Service White River National Forest have public land closure orders in place for the safety of public and firefighters. Visit BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office and U.S. Forest Service – White River for closure orders.

Evacuations: There are no evacuations at this time. Residents are encouraged to register with Garfield County’s emergency notification system at: Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority (garco911.com). All evacuation orders will be conducted through the Sheriff’s office. Call recorded message line at 970-981-3401 for current evacuation information

Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a TFR (FDC 03/0215) in place for air space over the Spring Creek Fire to reduce impacts to fire aviation operators. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or drones. If you fly, we can’t!

Fire information phoneline: (970) 414-1772 Time: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Facebook: Spring Creek Fire 2023 Email: 2023.springcreek@firenet.gov InciWeb: Spring Creek Fire Information

Spring Creek Fire update July 1