Released: 2 hrs. agoWest Fork Fire Complex

Fire Information

970 731-2745

970 731-2432

westforkfire@gmail

http://www.inciweb.org

 West Fork Fire Complex Update June 22, 2013, 9:00 AM

 

A RED FLAG warning has been issued for today; this is the fourth day in a row where conditions are ideal for rapid fire spread and for the chances of any ignition source starting new fires. Winds that have been pushing the fires will continue from the southwest at 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph wind gusts up to 50 mph on exposed ridges. The fires are again expected to make significant runs. The size for the West Fork Fire Complex that now includes the Papoose Fire is 53,544 acres.

Papoose Fire: The Papoose Fire, southwest of Creede, made a significant run to the north yesterday afternoon going from approximately 2,000 acres to more than 11,000 acres. It is burning near the Road Canyon Reservoir, 30-Mile Campground and threatening subdivisions in the area. Resources from the West Fork Fire are being moved to Papoose to assist with structure protection.

 West Fork Fire: Fire behavior on the east flank of the West Fork fire was moderated yesterday by the extensive use of air tankers. As of this morning the fire was still southwest of South Fork about 7 miles. Most of the fire activity yesterday was a result of the two heads of the fire burning together. This pulled the eastern flank of the fire toward the north. Structure protection will continue along the Highway 160 corridor. Firefighters were able to hold the fire from spreading to the south and all structures and cabins at Borns Lake were not affected by yesterday’s fire activity. West Fork Fire is 42,516 acres.

Windy Pass Fire: The Windy Pass Fire, which is burning in an area with less dense vegetation than the other two fires, grew only slightly yesterday to a total of 937 acres. Firefighters have been able to hold the Windy Pass Fire within the established indirect containment lines and there has been no damage to the Wolf Pass Ski area.

Evacuations: There are multiple ongoing evacuations and pre-evacuations. For the most up-to-date information on evacuations please go to www.acemergency.org.

Closures: Again, there are multiple road and trail closures the primary ones are Highway 160 and all roads and trails accessing 160 between South Fork and Treasure Falls and Highway 149 between South Fork and Creede from mile post 1 through milepost 22.

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Released: 1 day agoWest Fork Fire Complex

Fire Information

970 731-2745 or westforkfire@gmail

 West Fork Fire Complex Update June 21, 2013, 8:00 AM

 A RED FLAG warning has been issued for today; this is the third day in a row where conditions are ideal for rapid fire spread and for the chances of any ignition source starting new fires. With the predicted weather and the volatile fuels, the fire is again expected to make significant runs. The total acreage for the West Fork Fire Complex rose from 12,710 acres Wednesday morning to 29,911 acres as of 6:00 AM Friday morning. Most of the gain in acreage was on the West Fork Fire.

 West Fork Fire: Fire behavior on the West Fork fire was extreme; it made a close to 7-mile -run in a northeasterly direction. Eric Norton, Fire Behavior Analyst for the NIMO Team, said “The fire behavior we saw yesterday was so extreme, it was undocumented and unprecedented” The fire more than doubled in size going from 12,001 acres to close to 29,000 acres today. The fire burned in a northeasterly direction crossing the Continental Divide and burning on the ridge above Big Meadows Reservoir down to Metroz Lake. In some locations the fire is only ½ mile from Highway 160. Firefighters were able to hold the fire from spreading to the south and all structures and cabins at Borns Lake were not affected by yesterday’s fire activity.

Windy Pass Fire: The Windy Pass Fire only grew by about 300 acres yesterday and firefighters have been able to hold the Windy Pass Fire within the established indirect containment lines. There was a spot fire to the east of the ski area yesterday that hand crews were able to catch and extinguish.

Evacuations: There are multiple ongoing evacuations and pre-evacuations for the most update information on evacuations please go to www.acemergency.org or call 970 731-2745

Closures: Again there are multiple road and trail closures the primary ones are Highway 160 and all roads and trails accessing 160 between South Fork and Treasure Falls.

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Released: 2 days ago

New Closures on Rio Grande NF

June 20, 2013, 2:30 PM

The West Fork fire is now established on the Rio Grande National Forest on the east side of Wolf Creek Pass in Hope Creek and in Black Creek, four miles west of Highway 160, prompting Mineral and Rio Grande County Sheriff’s to issue new evacuation and pre-evacuation notices and closures for the following areas:

Evacuations: The Lake Humphreys and 4UR areas on the north side of the Weminuche Wilderness, approximately 6 miles south of Wagon Wheel Gap. The Metroz Lake area is also under evacuation notice.

Pre-Evacuation: The following areas along Highway 160 – Park Creek, Wolf Creek Ranch, Fun Valley, Elk Creek, Masonic Park, Trout Creek and River Bend. A pre-evacuation notice means residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. This means getting together medications, important documents, pets, etc. to take with you. Residents will be notified by a Sheriff’s Deputy if they need to evacuate.

Roads: Effective immediately, Highway 160 will be closed to traffic in both directions at the chain-up areas on the east and west side. The highway will be open to fire traffic only.

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Released: 2 days ago

Spot Fire from West Fork Fire Detected on Rio Grande NF

June 20, 2013, 11:00 AM

The West Fork fire has spotted across the Continental Divide onto the Rio Grande National Forest in the area to the west of Big Meadows Campground. An initial attack crew from the Rio Grande Forest is headed out to the spot fire.

As a precaution, the Forest is closing the Big Meadows Campground and also the Tucker Ponds Campground. In addition, Forest Roads 410 (road into Big Meadows) and 430 (Road from Big Meadows to Hunters Lake) have been closed.

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Reblogged:  6/22/13 1336 PDT

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