The report of black smoke was called in about 1:45 p.m. today to the Craig Interagency Dispatch Center. A load of Smokejumpers based out of Grand Junction were ordered but high winds aborted the mission and the smokejumpers were grounded. They are assigned to the incident and are traveling to the Wild Rose Fire by ground.
Numerous oil and gas facilities are in the immediate vicinity of the wildland fire. There are structures north of the fire which are threatened as blaze is being pushed by wind out of the southwest. A youth camp on private land about one mile from the incident is being evacuated by Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office. An undetermined number of adults and 40 children are leaving the camp.
Flames are being driven by high winds through pinion and juniper trees on Bureau of Land Management land.
BLM engines are en route to the incident. Additional resources ordered are: one 20-person type 1 hand crew; two heavy air tankers (planes) for retardant drops; and a helicopter.
It is in the south west corner of Rio Blanco County near Oil Springs Mountain on Bureau of Land Management land.
Information from BLM public information officer.
