Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit

UCR: Grizzly Creek Fire grew 150 acres

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Since Thursday, the Grizzly Creek fire has grown approximately 150 acres between the west side of Grizzly Creek drainage and No Name drainage. Spot fires also occurred on the east side of the upper Grizzly Creek drainage and ground crews are working to contain these spots. Please do not report smoke visible from area communities.  

The fire is now 32,631 acres and 91 percent contained.

Additional resources were called in Friday to engage the new fire activity: air attack, 2 Large Air Tankers, 1 Very Large Air Tanker, 2 Single Engine Air Tankers, a type 3 helicopter, type 1 helicopter, White River Wildfire module, California Eagle Lake Wildfire Module, Montana BLM type 6 engine, a type 2 Initial Attack crew, and an additional type 2 crew arriving on Saturday.

“Fire behavior today has not showed much growth in acres. Mostly some isolated torching” said Incident Commander Dan Nielsen. “Please respect the area closure of the fire perimeter and remember the White River National Forest and BLM in this area are in Stage 1 fire restrictions.” Nielsen elaborated that the plan is to suppress the fire with ground resources where it is safe to do so. Air resources to the west side of Grizzly Creek will be utilized to slow fire growth. The plan for additional resources to staff the fire will continue to evolve depending on precipitation from this weekend’s predicted snow fall.

If you are hunting, camping or recreating in the area be alerted to changing fire behavior, respect the closure area, and follow Stage 1 fire restrictions which prohibit campfires outside of designated fire rings.

UCR: Grizzly Creek Fire grew 150 acres

BLM: Fire danger remains high; officials urge caution where fire allowed

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – With much of western Colorado experiencing extreme to exceptional drought, Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect on BLM public lands in the Colorado River Valley, Grand Junction, Kremmling, and White River Field Offices, along with Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, and Summit counties.

“Extended drought conditions have created extremely dry fuels. Any small ignition is at high risk of growing very large, very quickly,” said Grand Junction Field Manager Greg Wolfgang. “We absolutely need people to comply with fire restrictions.”

“With the unprecedented conditions that are driving the current fires on the Front Range and increased visitation by hunters, we want to emphasize the importance of everyone thinking differently than we normally do this time of year,” said Colorado River Valley Field Manager, Larry Sandoval. “Any fire could have the same results of what we are seeing on the Front Range.”

Visitors to public lands should know that they could be held financially liable for suppression costs associated with any fire for which they are determined to be responsible.

Both the public and fire personnel are reporting frequent illegal and unattended campfires, extinguishing about one human-caused wildfire per day. Stage 1 fire restrictions only allow campfires in designated, agency-provided grates within developed recreation sites. Where fires are allowed, they must be completely extinguished with plenty of water until they are cool to the touch before leaving them. 

BLM fire restriction orders and maps of restriction areas are available at Upper Colorado River Fire and Aviation. General information about fire restrictions throughout Colorado is available at http://www.coemergency.com/p/fire-bans-danger.html. Fire restrictions will be in place until further notice.

BLM: Fire danger remains high; officials urge caution where fire allowed

Pine Gulch Fire reaches 100 percent containment

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire and Aviation Management Unit’s Type 3 Incident Management Team gained 100 percent containment today and have transitioned command to the local Type 4 Incident Management Team.  

Fire crews were able to contain the Pine Gulch Fire and complete majority of the suppression repair. The Type 4 team will continue to monitor the fire, mop up, and finalize any remaining needs for suppression repair.  

The BLM Grand Junction Field Office still has a closure order in place for the perimeter of the fire while post-fire efforts continue. Local BLM staff in coordination with the Burned Area Emergency Team will continue to develop plans for emergency stabilization and rehabilitation to the burned area.  

Pine Gulch Fire reaches 100 percent containment

UCR: Warmer weather brings expected increase in fire activity at Grizzly Creek

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Upper Colorado River Fire and Aviation Management Unit: Today firefighters used a helicopter to help keep fire activity in Grizzly Creek from expanding up the drainage.

With warm weather forecast through the week, firefighters expect similar fire and firefighting activity around the upper Grizzly Creek drainage. The Grizzly Creek Fire is not currently growing, but it is putting up smoke along the uncontained line in the steep, rugged drainage.

Maps of the current Forest and BLM closures as well as the fire perimeter are available on InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6942/.   Firefighters urge people recreating in the area of the Grizzly Creek Fire to respect the existing fire closure, which was recently reduced in size to allow more public access to the area.

The Grizzly Creek Fire remains 32,431 acres and 91 percent contained, with 18 firefighters and a helicopter working the fire.

Fire restrictions remain in place but vary based on location. Check www.blm.gov or www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver for the latest fire restriction information.

UCR: Warmer weather brings expected increase in fire activity at Grizzly Creek

Firefighters get first-hand look at hot spots in Grizzly Creek drainage

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Yesterday, two firefighters were ferried by helicopter into the Grizzly Creek drainage to get a closer look at four hot spots near the edge of uncontained line discovered during previous surveillance flights and drone operations.
Division North Supervisor Dusty Calfee and Task Force Leader Jake Fischer spent seven hours in the drainage, reaching three of the four most prominent hot spots and getting line around two of the spots.

“What’s causing the heat and smoke is fire coming from down low in the duff,” Calfee said. “It’s leaf litter, needle cast and small branches, and it’s that creeping, smoldering type of fire that doesn’t always get spotted by helicopters.”

Calfee and Fischer hiked through 8-foot high brush, and crossed through shin-deep water multiple times. They noted several other locations during their hike showing low-intensity heat.

“This is not the type of fire activity that poses an immediate threat,” said Calfee. “At the moment, fire activity is minimal. If it were to find jackpots of fuel, activity could increase and become a threat in dry fall conditions. Should that happen, we may need to take action using aerial resources, or other strategies. We will continue to closely monitor the fire in the drainage, and take action when needed.”

The remote location inside the Grizzly Creek drainage is a safety risk for firefighters due to steep slopes, vertical cliff bands, scree fields and stretches of continuous brush. These factors make it very difficult to construct containment line in all the areas showing heat. The terrain makes it extremely difficult to extricate an injured firefighter if necessary.

Most of the other work being done on the fire involves suppression repair. Excavator work continues on the Transfer Trail Road, which will remain closed until work is complete. On the southern edge of the fire, crews have completed repair of all fire line. They are now cleaning up piles of logs and debris, and starting fence repair.

The Grizzly Creek Fire remains at 32,431 acres, and is 91% contained, with 86 people working on the fire.

The BLM and Forest closures that include the area south of Coffee Pot Road are still in place. A map of the closures is available on InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6942/.

The BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office and the White River National Forest remain under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit all campfires and charcoal, even in developed areas. For more information, go to www.blm.gov or www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver.

Firefighters get first-hand look at hot spots in Grizzly Creek drainage

Grizzly Creek fire update

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Coffee Pot Road to re-open Saturday; Crews continue suppression repair

EAGLE, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management and the White River National Forest will re-open the Coffee Pot Road beginning Saturday, Sept. 12 and are asking the public to recreate in the area responsibly.

“We understand the high public interest in accessing the Coffee Pot Road. We still have crews working in the area, so we are asking people to drive carefully, and if they are hunting, to be aware of their surroundings,” said
White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams.

“Be mindful in doing your part to minimize road damage as you drive onto open side roads north of Coffee Pot Road,” said BLM Colorado River Valley Field Manager Larry Sandoval. “If your vehicle begins to cause ruts, please consider other access options, and know that repaired fire suppression lines are not open to motorized travel.”

The BLM and Forest closures that include the area south of Coffee Pot Road are still in place. A map of the closures is available on Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6942/.

The BLM boat launch at Dotsero Landing will also open Saturday for take-out only. Lyon’s Gulch and Cottonwood Landing above Dotsero remain open for put-in and take-out. The Colorado River recreation areas from Dotsero through Glenwood Canyon to No Name remain closed.

The Transfer Trail Road closure will continue because of the high amount of heavy equipment still working in the area.

The Grizzly Creek Fire remains 32,431 acres (a small reduction this week due to mapping) and 91 percent contained. About 100 personnel remain on the fire, monitoring the open containment lines and continuing suppression repair as roads dry to allow better access.

Rain and snow have helped reduce fire activity. Firefighters are awaiting an infrared flight that will show where any heat may remain after this week’s precipitation.

Meanwhile, the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is continuing its assessment of the fire. The BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office and the White River National Forest remain under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit all campfires and charcoal, even in developed areas. For more information, go to www.blm.gov or www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver.

Closure order-|

Closure order map-|

Forest Order-|

Grizzly Creek fire update

Grizzly Creek Fire at 91 percent containment

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Start date: 08/10/2020
Location: Glenwood Canyon
Cause: Human
Fire size: 32,464 acres
Containment: 91%
Total personnel: 270

Yesterday’s moisture helped further moderate fire behavior. Fire personnel are mostly away from fire lines until conditions on the ground dry to allow better access. Suppression and suppression repair activities will resume as conditions dry.

Scattered showers may continue today with a better chance of rain tomorrow. A drying trend is anticipated this weekend.
The Grizzly Creek Fire remains 91 percent contained and has not grown in 11 days. Fire resources will continue to be released to travel home or to new fires.

Today, management of the Grizzly Creek Fire transitioned from the Alaska Type 1 team to the Type 3 Upper Colorado River Fire Incident Management Team, under the command of Eric White.

A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is assessing the fire for imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands. The team is composed of resource specialists such as hydrologists, geologists, botanists, soils scientists, archaeologists, wildlife biologists, and engineers.

Unless circumstances change, the daily update schedule will be reduced, going forward, to once every two to three days. We will continue to provide updated information on the Grizzly Fire Facebook page, and on our inciWeb site (links below).

Fire closure areas include Coffee Pot and Transfer Trail roads. Both closure orders and associated maps can be found here.
Go to cotrip.org for information on highway closures.

A temporary flight restriction (TFR) remains in place over the fire. Go to https://tfr.faa.gov/ for details.

Fire information: (970) 930-1850
Email: 2020.grizzlycreek@firenet.gov
InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6942/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrizzlyCreekFireCO
Twitter: @fire_grizzly

Grizzly Creek Fire at 91 percent containment

UCR: Crews keep Coulter Fire in check north of Rifle Gap Reservoir

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RIFLE, Colo. – Crews from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire and Aviation Management Unit (UCR) have brought the 28-acre Coulter Fire to 30 percent containment this evening. 

The fire is burning about nine miles north of Rifle Gap Reservoir on White River National Forest land. Sixty firefighters, two engines and two helicopters today kept the fire from expanding. The change in acreage this evening is the result of a better estimate after mapping the fire from the air.

Firefighters have completed a saw line and hose lay around the fire. The area received a small amount of rain this afternoon. Firefighters do not expect the fire to grow further and will continue to strengthen containment lines over the next several days.

Crews responded to the lightning-ignited fire about 4 p.m. yesterday, following a thunderstorm that moved through the area.

The White River National Forest remains under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit all campfires and charcoal, even in developed areas. For more information, go to www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver.   

This will be the last update on this fire unless the situation changes.

UCR: Crews keep Coulter Fire in check north of Rifle Gap Reservoir

Crews working 22-acre Coulter Fire north of Rifle Gap Reservoir

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RIFLE, Colo. – Crews from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire and Aviation Management Unit are working the 22-acre Coulter Fire today about nine miles north of Rifle Gap Reservoir on the White River National Forest.

Crews responded to the lightning-ignited fire about 4 p.m. yesterday, following a thunderstorm that moved through the area. They were able to stop the fire from actively spreading and will continue to work the fire today with two helicopters, two engines and about 60 firefighters.

There are currently no immediate threats to structures or evacuations in place.

More thunderstorms and lightning are anticipated in western Colorado this afternoon.

The White River National Forest remains under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit all campfires and charcoal, even in developed areas. For more information, go to www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver.

Crews working 22-acre Coulter Fire north of Rifle Gap Reservoir

Evacuation of Lookout Mountain above Glenwood Springs, as well as No Name

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The #GrizzlyCreekFire Incident Command has directed an evacuation notice for the residents of Lookout Mountain The GWS Community Center is the relocation point at this time. As fire is moving up hill to the south.

Official fire information:
InciWeb
Grizzly Creek Fire facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GrizzlyCreekFireCO
Phone: #970-930-1850
grizzlycreekfire@gmail.com
To sign up for emergency alerts in Garfield County, please visit garco911.com
Garfield County Emergency Management: Register at garfieldcounty.net.

Evacuation of Lookout Mountain above Glenwood Springs, as well as No Name