Press Release and Map from Little Sand Fire Public Information Officers: May 31, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.
News Release
May 30, 2012, 9:00 a.m.
(MST)
Contact: Laura McConnell,
PIO
Email:
theLittleSandFire@Gmail.com
Phone: 970.444.2201 – 8am –
9pm
24 Hour - Recorded Message:
970.264.4731
*** PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED ***
Saturday, June 2nd beginning 2:30
p.m. at Sportsman’s Campground
|
Morning Update – Thursday, May 31, 2012
Pagosa
Springs, CO – Light smoke settled in the area of Pagosa Springs
this morning from the Little Sand Fire. Yesterday crews working on
the southeast portion of the fire (Division Y) experienced increased fire
activity late in the afternoon which put up smoke that was visible from Pagosa
Springs.
Yesterday’s
Progress:
The structure protection
group worked on the northeast area of the fire (Division A) removing brush and
trees from around structures. This work is being done as a
precautionary effort to create defensible space around homes and structures in
the area. Crews worked in the public fuel wood area near
Sportsman’s Campground removing limbs and ladder fuels. Ladder
fuels provide vertical continuity between the forest floor and tree canopy,
thereby allowing fire to carry from surface fuels into the crowns of trees or
shrubs with relative ease. These fuels help initiate and assure the continuation
of crowning.[1]
Burnout operations were
successful on the southwest side of the fire. Winds were present
but were not a major factor.
Two community meetings were
held yesterday at the Sportsman’s Campground and Pagosa Springs H.S.,
Approximately 100 community members were present.
Div A - (upper
northeast)
Crews will be
in patrol status, continuing to work on and around structures. The
work will include delimbing of trees and removing ladder fuels from around
structures in the area of Sportsman’s Campground. Crews will also
be working the spot near Trail Ridge Road (639) which is mostly a ground fire
and not in the trees. Improvements and holding at Forest Service
Road 639 will continue.
Div B – (southwest
side)
There was
growth on the southwest side of the fire, however the line is holding.
Firefighters will continue to hold the line.
Div Y – (upper northwest)
This division
will be monitored by air. Due to the heaviness of the tree canopy,
ground observation is not possible.
Closures of roads, trails
and campgrounds can be found at: www.FS.USDA.gov/sanjuan/
Fire Stats at a
glance:
Start
Date: May 13th, 2012
Cause: Lightning
Acreage: 3,754
Personnel:
246
Crews: 6
Cooperating
Agencies: Hinsdale County, Archuleta
County, USFS, CSFS
Aviation:
(1)-Type 1 Helicopter, (1)-Type 3
Helicopter, Air Attack
Engines: 5
Injuries: 0
Structures
destroyed: 0
Structures
threatened: 40 including
outbuildings
Cost to
date:
$1,011,000
###
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