Pine Gulch Fire Update – August 27, 2020 – 8:30 a.m.

Pine Gulch Fire statistics:
Size: approximately 135,958 acres
Containment: 53%
Total Personnel: 935
Location: Approximately 18 miles north of Grand Junction, CO
Reported: July 31, approximately 5:15 p.m.
Cause: Lightning

Current situation: There was minimal growth on the Pine Gulch Fire yesterday (38 acres). Active fire spread outside the fire perimeter should be limited again today due to successful containment lines. Most fire activity will be interior burning when fire picks up pockets of unburned fuels. Today, this is most likely on the west side in Division D, where smoke may be seen coming from within the fire perimeter.

Crews were highly successful in their efforts to build direct control line in the East Salt Creek area of Division F, and this control line is holding well. Today, heavy equipment operators will work to complete secondary control lines north of there. More containment was added in Division K yesterday, and the Pine Gulch Fire is now 53% contained. In Divisions K, Z, and A, firefighters are backhauling unneeded equipment. Some equipment and personnel will be released so they can be utilized on other fires in the region where the need is greater. The fire near the Division A/B break shows no signs of breaching containment lines, and Divisions B and D are in patrol and monitor status. Crews in Division E will work on any remaining mop-up needs.

The overall focus on the Pine Gulch Fire is quickly shifting from fire suppression to suppression repair. Suppression repair involves actions that help minimize damage to soil, water, and other resources directly attributable to fire suppression activities. Firefighters will work with specialists called Resource Advisors who will help ascertain needs.

Thunderstorms were widespread just north of the fire yesterday with one moving directly over the eastern half of the fire. This prompted a brief Flash Flood Warning for the eastern half of the Pine Gulch fire. There was a small amount of debris flow near Kimball Creek Rd. More thunderstorms are predicted, and these bring the potential for debris flows and flash flooding.

Weather & fuel conditions: The chance of thunderstorms will continue. Any storms that develop could produce winds gusts up to 40 mph. There is a 15% chance of wetting rain. Maximum temperature is around 90 with 19-22% relative humidity. Winds are forecast from the west-southwest at 8-11 mph with gusts up to 19. The coming days bring more chance for thunderstorms with similar chance for gustier winds. As the chance of rainfall increases, so does the threat of flash flooding and debris flow. While there has been moisture in the area, its effects will be short term because of continued drought conditions; any new fire starts in the vicinity still have the potential for growth.

Evacuations: Garfield County: 4A Ridge Road (256), Salt Wash (205), King Road (258), Clear Creek Road (211), Carr Creek Road (207), Kimball Creek Road (202). A pre-evacuation order is in effect for all residents of Garfield County west of CO-139 to the Utah border, and any formerly evacuated residents remain in pre-evacuation. For more information: www.garfieldcounty.net. There are currently no pre-evacuations or evacuations in Mesa County: www.sheriff.mesacounty.us/FireInformation.

Closures: Roan Creek Road (204) at North Dry Fork (200). The V 2/10 Rd. at the 44 Rd, Coal Canyon Rd. just past the Cameo Shooting Range. The 21 Road north of the BLM boundary, 16 Road at V 8/10 Road, and the Q 5/10 Road is closed at 18 Rd. BLM lands north of Loma, Fruita, Grand Junction, and Palisade. Please see: www.tinyurl.com/PineGulchBLM

Air quality: Air quality health advisories may be issued in areas near the Pine Gulch and Grizzly Creek fires. A smoke outlook for the Pine Gulch Fire is available where this update is posted and at https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/WesternColorado. For more information on smoke levels, please visit https://airnow.gov.

Emergency Alerts: For Garfield County, please visit garco911.com. Mesa County alerts, please visit bit.ly/Emergency_Alerts.

Temporary flight restrictions: A temporary flight restriction is in place over the Pine Gulch Fire. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

For more information:
Information office: (970) 628-0130, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Media inquiries: (970) 812-3706, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Email: 2020.PineGulch@firenet.gov
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6906/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/PineGulchFireCO
Interactive fire map: https://arcg.is/W0izr
Smoke outlook: https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/WesternColorado

Resources include: 3 Type 1 hand crews, 10 Type 2 hand crews, 8 helicopters, 66 engines, 14 bulldozers,
26 water tenders, and overhead/support personnel

Special note: The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has opened CO 139/Douglas Pass Rd., but travelers must plan for lower speed limits and for possible future closures due to mudslides or other events. There is no stopping or standing. Watch for fire and emergency vehicles. The area is being patrolled. All updates will continue to be posted to www.COtrip.org and CDOT’s Facebook and Twitter.

Pine Gulch Fire statistics:
Size: approximately 135,920 acres
Containment: 47%
Total Personnel: 935
Location: Approximately 18 miles north of Grand Junction, CO
Reported: July 31, approximately 5:15 p.m.
Cause: Lightning

Current situation: Outflow winds entered the fire area overnight and moved through drainages, but they did not significantly impact fire behavior or growth. Operations in East Salt Creek in Division F have been highly successful. Fire has backed down into the bottom of the drainage, and heavy equipment operators and firefighters have been able to work near the fire’s edge. During the night operational period, crews completed dozer line from Barrel Creek east to the 289 Road. Firefighters then conducted successful burning operations utilizing both hand ignitions and UAS (Unmanned Aerial System). Today and in the coming days, hotshot crews will create direct control line at the fire’s edge in the bottom of East Salt Creek. This will be pivotal in helping to prevent fire spread to the north. The terrain here is unforgiving; these highly skilled crews will work swiftly and will be aided by aircraft from above.

Elsewhere in Division F, crews and heavy equipment operators expect to complete most of their work on secondary control lines today. They will continue utilizing logging equipment to remove heavy fuels near control lines. All such preparation work is now complete in Division L.
In Division K on the north, all control line is holding well, and most of the fire perimeter here is now considered contained. Crews will be “backhauling” (removing unneeded equipment) from Division K today, both near control lines and around homes. Similar work is happening in Divisions Z and A.

At the Division A/B break, there has been a small amount of fire growth to the south, but it has not threatened the control line. The rest of Division B as well as Division D remains quiet. The fire is slowly creeping and consuming unburned fuel, but it is primarily hung up in natural features and rocks. Along Hwy 139, control line is holding well.

Yesterday, smoke columns were visible over the fire. This was primarily from pockets of unburned fuel burning well within the interior of the fire where it is not a threat. This may be seen again today.Weather & Fuel Conditions: Thunderstorms are again forecast between 12 p.m. and midnight. There is a 15% chance of rain. Temperature highs will be in the low 90s, and relative humidity should be in the upper teens. Winds should remain light today at 6-9 mph from the north to northwest. Storms could produce gustier outflow winds up to 25 mph, and these could have a southerly component. Fuels remain dry and receptive to burning and spotting.

Evacuations: Garfield County: 4A Ridge Road (256), Salt Wash (205), King Road (258), Clear Creek Road (211), Carr Creek Road (207), Kimball Creek Road (202). A pre-evacuation order is in effect for all residents of Garfield County west of CO-139 to the Utah border, and any formerly evacuated residents remain in pre-evacuation. For more information: www.garfieldcounty.net. There are currently no pre-evacuations or evacuations in Mesa County.

Closures: Roan Creek Road (204) at North Dry Fork (200). The V 2/10 Rd. at the 44 Rd, Coal Canyon Rd. just past the Cameo Shooting Range. The 21 Road north of the BLM boundary, 16 Road at V 8/10 Road, and the Q 5/10 Road is closed at 18 Rd. BLM lands north of Loma, Fruita, Grand Junction, and Palisade. Please see: www.tinyurl.com/PineGulchBLM.

Air quality: Air quality health advisories may be issued in areas near the Pine Gulch and Grizzly Creek fires. A smoke outlook for the Pine Gulch Fire is available where this update is posted and at https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/WesternColorado. For more information on smoke levels, please visit https://airnow.gov.

Emergency alerts: For Garfield County, please visit garco911.com. Mesa County alerts, please visit bit.ly/Emergency_Alerts.

Temporary flight restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Pine Gulch Fire. Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Resources include: 3 Type 1 hand crews, 10 Type 2 hand crews, 8 helicopters, 62 engines, 14 bulldozers, 24 water tenders, and overhead/support personnel.

For more information:
Information office: (970) 628-0130, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Media inquiries: (970) 812-3706, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Email: 2020.PineGulch@firenet.gov
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6906/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/PineGulchFireCO
Interactive fire map: https://arcg.is/W0izr
Smoke outlook: https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/WesternColorado

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RMIMT: Pine Gulch Fire en 135,920 acres, 47 por ciento de contención

Actualización del Fuego Pine Gulch – Agosto 26, 2020 – 10 a.m.

Estadísticas del Fuego Pine Gulch:
Tamaño: 135,920 acres
Contención: 47%
Personal total: 935
Ubicación: Aproximadamente 18 miles al norte de Grand Junction, CO
Reportado: July 31, aproximadamente 5:15 p.m.
Causa: Relámpago

Nota especial: CDOT ha abierto CO 139 / Douglas Pass Rd., Pero los viajeros deberían esperar límites de velocidad más bajos y la posibilidad de cierres futuros debido a deslizamientos de tierra u otros eventos. No debería detener los vehículos ni ponerse de pie en la calle. Estén atento a los vehículos de emergencia. La zona está siendo patrullada por bomberos. Todas las actualizaciones se seguirán publicando en COtrip.org y en el Facebook y Twitter de CDOT.

Situación actual: Los vientos fuertes entraron al área del incendio durante la noche y se movieron a través de drenajes, pero no afectaron significativamente el comportamiento o crecimiento del fuego. Las operaciones en East Salt Creek en la División F han tenido mucho éxito. El fuego ha retrocedido hasta el fondo del drenaje y los operadores de equipos pesados y los bomberos han podido trabajar cerca del borde del incendio. Durante la noche, los equipos completaron la línea de topadoras desde Barrel Creek hacia el este hasta 289 Road. Luego, los bomberos llevaron a cabo operaciones de quema exitosas utilizando igniciones manuales y UAS (sistema aéreo no tripulado). Hoy y en los próximos días, los equipos de Hotshots (bomberos altamente calificados) crearán una línea de control directo en el borde del incendio en el fondo de East Salt Creek. Esto será fundamental para ayudar a prevenir la propagación del fuego hacia el norte. El terreno aquí es implacable; estos bomberos especialistas trabajarán rápidamente y serán asistidas por aviones desde arriba.

En otras partes de la División F, los equipos de bomberos y los operadores de equipos pesados esperan completar la mayor parte de su trabajo en las líneas de control secundarias hoy. Continuarán utilizando equipo pesado para eliminar combustibles pesados cerca de las líneas de control. Todo ese trabajo de preparación está ahora completo en la División L.

En la División K en el norte, toda la línea de control se mantiene bien, y la mayor parte del perímetro de fuego aquí, ahora se considera contenido. Los bomberos estarán “retrocediendo” (eliminando el equipo innecesario) de la División K hoy, tanto cerca de las líneas de control como alrededor de las casas. Se está realizando un trabajo similar en las Divisiones Z y A.

Entre las Divisiónes A / B, ha habido un pequeño crecimiento de fuego hacia el sur, pero no ha cruzado la línea de control. El resto de la División B, así como la División D, permanece quieto. El fuego sigue avanzando lentamente, pero se queda principalmente en rocas y elementos naturales que no queman. A lo largo de la Hwy 139, la línea de control se mantiene bien.

Ayer, se veían columnas de humo sobre el fuego. Esto fue principalmente partes en el interior del fuego que todavía no han quemado, donde no es una amenaza a las líneas de control. Esto se puede ver de nuevo hoy.

Condiciones meteorológicas y de combustible: las tormentas eléctricas se pronostican nuevamente entre las 12 p.m. y medianoche. Hay un 15% de probabilidad de lluvia. Las temperaturas máximas estarán por debajo de los 90 grados, y la humedad relativa debe estar entre 15-20%. Los vientos deberían permanecer ligeros hoy a 6-9 mph de norte a noroeste. Las tormentas podrían producir vientos más fuertes de hasta 25 mph, y estos podrían tener un componente del sur. Los combustibles permanecen secos y receptivos a quemar.

Evacuaciones: Condado de Garfield: 4A Ridge Road (256), Salt Wash (205), King Road (258), Clear Creek Road (211), Carr Creek Road (207), Kimball Creek Road (202). Una orden previa a la evacuación está en vigor para todos los residentes del condado de Garfield al oeste de CO-139 hacia la frontera de Utah, y cualquier residente que haya sido evacuado permanece en situación previa a la evacuación.. Para obtener más información: www.garfieldcounty.net Actualmente no hay evacuaciones previas o evacuaciones en el condado de Mesa: www.sheriff.mesacounty.us/FireInformation Cierres: Roan Creek Road (204) en North Dry Fork (200). La V 2/10 Rd. en la 44 Rd, Coal Canyon Rd. justo después del campo de tiro de Cameo. La carretera 21 al norte del límite de BLM, la carretera 16 en la carretera V 8/10 y la carretera Q 5/10 están cerradas en 18 Rd. BLM aterriza al norte de Loma, Fruita, Grand Junction y Palisade. Consulte: www.tinyurl.com/PineGulchBLM

Calidad del aire: Se pueden emitir avisos de salud sobre la calidad del aire en áreas cercanas a los incendios de Pine Gulch y Grizzly Creek. Una perspectiva de humo para Pine Gulch Fire está disponible donde se publica esta actualización y en https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/WesternColorado. Para obtener más información sobre los niveles de humo, visite https://airnow.gov

Alertas de emergencia: para el condado de Garfield, visite garco911.com. Alertas del condado de Mesa, visite bit.ly/Emergency_Alerts.

Restricciones de vuelo temporales: Hay una restricción de vuelo temporal sobre el incendio de Pine Gulch. Los incendios forestales son una zona prohibida para los drones. Si usted vuela, no podemos. Para obtener más información, visite http://knowbeforeyoufly.org

Para mas información:
Officina: (970) 628-0130, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Consultas de los medios: (970) 812-3706, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Corro Electrónico: 2020.PineGulch@firenet.gov
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6906/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/PineGulchFireCO
Mapa interactivo: https://arcg.is/W0izr
Perspectiva de humo: https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/WesternColorado

Los Recursos Incluyen: 3 equipos de bomberos de tipo 1, 10 Equipos de bomberos de tipo 2, 8 helicópteros, 62 camiones de bombero, 14 topadores, 24 camiones de agua, y varias personas de apoyo.