Rollouts on northern end of fire continue to make containment difficult on Brush Creek Fire near Rifle Gap State park.
The fire remains at approximately 400 acres. The fire is on BLM but close to the White River National Forest boundary. It is located approximately 10 miles north of Rifle.
Approximately 150 personnel from cooperating agencies are working this fire. 3 engines and 7 hand crews remain on the fire. Air resources remaining consist of 2 heavy helicopters one medium and one light helicopter. 6 engines and two crews have been released from the fire as well as other air resources.
The northern boundary of the fire is located on steep rocky slopes with heavy fuels. These conditions are making line construction and containment difficult. Today roll-outs plagued the effort to construct fireline on this northern edge of the fire. Eventually crews pulled out as the situation became unsafe. This evening the team is considering options such as construction of a secondary line at the bottom of the canyon and/or allowing the fire to move in a northerly direction to an area where containment would be safe and achievable (open meadows and aspen)s. The flanks of the fire are contained and being moped up at this time.
At this time we have 40% containment of the fire. In order to save time and resources some of the hand crews will be camped on the fire-line; food and water will be slung by helicopter to them.
These burning conditions are expected to last into next week.
Updated information is available at www.inciweb.org or by calling 970-274-0498
