Fire information update from Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Fire Information Officer at 9 a.m.
The Beaver Creek fire was reported at approximately 8 p.m. June 13. Upper Colorado River Interagency fire resources (UCR), as well as Rifle Fire Protection and Grand Valley Fire resources responded. The fire is located about 7 miles southwest of Rifle, on Log Mesa and is burning in sagebrush and pinion-juniper fuels. The fire grew to approximately 7 to 10 acres in size, largely driven by dry fuels and strong winds until about 2 a.m. this morning.
The Beaver Creek fire is located on Bureau of Land Management lands and is in close proximity to private lands to the south. No structures are in the area; however, utilities in the vicinity were threatened last night. Forecasted weather will help firefighters to make progress on the fire with an estimated containment by 6 p.m. Resources assigned to the Beaver Creek fire include 3 UCR engines with crews and an additional 3 person crew; Rifle and Grand Valley Fire resources and the 7 person Veteran’s Crew out of Grand Junction will be on the fire today.
Lightning and storm activities throughout the area resulted in at least 3 additional smoke reports last evening, 2 on the Roan Plateau and 1 off Highway 13. Due to darkness and the priority set for the Beaver Creek fire, firefighters were unable to locate these fires. UCR fire resources will be searching in these areas looking for fires today. Officials anticipate additional smoke reports may occur throughout the day as temperatures warm and based on lightning activity yesterday.
Information Source:
http://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/dispatch_centers/r2gjc/