Pine Gulch Fire update

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team – Dan Dallas, Incident Commander
Information Center: (970) 628-0130, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Media Inquiries: (970) 812-3706, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Pine Gulch Fire Statistics:
Size: approximately 139,006 acres
Containment: 77%
Total Personnel: 753
Location: Approximately 18 miles north of
Grand Junction, CO
Reported: July 31, approximately 5:15 p.m.
Cause: Lightning
Resources: 3 Type 1 hand crews, 7 Type 2 hand crews, 6 helicopters, 41 engines, 11 bulldozers, 22 water tenders, and overhead/support personnel

Special Notes: Today is the last day the Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team will be in command of the Pine Gulch Fire. At 6 a.m. on Sunday, Aug 30, the Southern Area Type 1 Red Team will assume command of the fire. Members of the Southern Area team are shadowing their counterparts on the Rocky Mountain team today. The Rocky Mountain team is grateful to coordinate with another highly skilled incident management team to ensure a smooth and thorough transition. We thank this community for its incredible show of support during our time here.

Current Situation: Suppression repair is now the main activity on the Pine Gulch Fire. Resource Advisors will help direct efforts to repair dozer lines and minimize damage to soil, water, and other resources impacted by fire suppression activities. Backhaul of heavy machinery and structure protection equipment is nearly complete in Divisions K, Z, and A; these divisions are in patrol and monitor status. Likewise, Division L will remove equipment and focus will shift to suppression repair. Crews will continue monitoring uncontained fire edge on the south and west. There is still some heat in these areas, but there has been no fire movement for many days. Firefighters are completing work on the handline in the East Salt Creek area in Division F; they will mop-up and secure this edge over the coming days. Because of the dangerous terrain in this area, there is a Rapid Extraction Module (REM) assigned to support firefighters if needed. The REM can extract patients from difficult, steep terrain in the unfortunate event of firefighter injury. The team consists of paramedics and EMTs who are trained in rope rescue and mechanical advantage rigging systems. There have only been a few minor injuries of firefighters on the Pine Gulch Fire to date such as a scratched eye, a cut hand, and a twisted ankle. We are happy to report no major injuries.

While fire activity has decreased significantly on the Pine Gulch Fire, unburned fuels in the interior may continue to burn and smolder for quite some time, and smoke may be visible when this happens. It will take a season-ending event such as significant, sustained rainfall (or even snow) for the fire to be completely “out”. This may not take place until mid-September, October, or even as late as November.

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Lingering showers and thunderstorms will be possible in the morning. Clouds will decrease in the late morning, allowing temperatures to rise and increasing the chance of afternoon thunderstorm development. Any thunderstorms that do develop may produce wind gusts up to 40 mph. There is a 30% chance of wetting rain today, up to 1/10 inch. Maximum temperatures are around 90 with minimum relative humidity 19-22%. Winds are from the east-northeast turning west 8-12 mph with gusts to 19. Winds in the southwest area of the fire may come from the southwest. Rainfall may continue into next week. As the chance of rainfall increases, so does the threat of flash flooding and debris flow. Any new fire starts in the vicinity still have significant potential for growth.

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

Pine Gulch Fire update

RMIMT: Pine Gulch Fire 53 percent contained, minimal growth yesterday

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

RMIMT: Pine Gulch Fire 53 percent contained, minimal growth yesterday

RMIMT: Pine Gulch Fire at 135,920 acres, 47 percent containment

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

_____________________________________________________________________

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.

RMIMT: Pine Gulch Fire at 135,920 acres, 47 percent containment

RMIMT: Pine Gulch Fire grows to 11,846 Acres; Red Flag warning for Thursday

Current situation: The Pine Gulch Fire has been very active over the last 36 hours, growing to 11,846 acres by Wednesday evening. Containment remains at 5%. The fire has primarily grown to the north with small increases in acreage on the northeast on Wednesday and northwest on Wednesday night.

On Thursday, crews on the south side of the fire will hold and improve the prep work that was done along the 910 Road on Wednesday. On the west-northwest side of the fire, crews were able to tie into a rocky slope on the west side of the fire yesterday and will continue constructing line to the east with hand crews and bulldozers over the course of the day Thursday. Firefighters on the north side of the fire will continue removing fuels along the North Dry Fork Road (200 Road) and continuing structure assessments. Crews on the east-northeast side of the fire will continue removing fuels along the X ½ Road and will be putting structure protection in place for structures on the west side of the fire area. Aerial resources will be available again today to assist efforts on the ground.

Four more engines and additional crews will be added to a “swing shift.” These crews will work the late afternoon to early morning hours in on the south side of the fire to continue operations initiated during the day.

Weather & fuel conditions: Even though temperatures will be a few degrees cooler on Thursday, a Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Pine Gulch Fire from 11am to 8pm due to expected gusty winds and hot, dry conditions. The forecast calls for wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon with very low humidity – near 10%. Conditions over next two days will be critical on the fire line as activity is expected increase with potential for high rates of spread.

Closures and evacuations: There is a closure in place on Mesa County Road X 1/2 after High Lonesome Ranch (275 County Road 222) to prevent nonessential traffic from entering the fire area. The presence of non-fire traffic within the area is a distraction and a hazard to firefighters and members of the public. There are no evacuations in place at this time.

Fire restrictions: Fire danger across the region is rated as very high. Both Mesa County and Garfield County have Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. BLM lands within the Grand Junction Field Office are also under Stage 1 Restrictions. To learn more about fire restrictions on BLM-managed lands in western Colorado, please visit https://go.usa.gov/xfVFY.

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. Whenever a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of the area. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Pine Gulch Fire Statistics:
Size: 11,846 acres
Containment: 5%
Total personnel: 232
Location: approximately 18 miles north of Grand Junction, CO
Reported: July 31, approximately 5:15 p.m.
Cause: lightning

For more information:
Information Office: (970) 628-0130, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Email: 2020.PineGulch@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6906/
Facebook: facebook.com/PineGulchFireCO

RMIMT: Pine Gulch Fire grows to 11,846 Acres; Red Flag warning for Thursday