Colorado Wildfire Report: July 2

About this report: This wildfire update is provided by the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in partnership with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control to keep you informed of current wildfires for which the State is currently supporting and monitoring. The update does not cover all wildfires currently burning in Colorado that may be smaller incidents. This update contains information on the fires the State EOC is monitoring and supporting in Colorado:

• West Fork Complex Fire (Includes West Fork, Windy Pass and Papoose Fires)
• East Peak Fire
• East Fork Fire
• Big Meadows Fire
• Ox Cart Fire

There have been many smaller fires start in the state (less than 100 acres and without damage to structures or harm to people). These fires have been largely put out in the first operational periods and have not exceeded 100 acres. I am not including these fires in the daily report.

Important Note: Information on current and future Colorado wildfires can be obtained from the following websites, which are updated regularly during incidents:

• INCIWEB: http://www.inciweb.org/state/6/ Colorado Office of Emergency Management: http://www.coemergency.com/
• Current Map of Colorado Fires by COEM: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=215563989566450268982.0004c328de8016253230a&msa=0&ll=40.446947,-105.908203&spn=13.068198,19.753418
• Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center: http://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/links/fire_info/index.html
• US Forest Service Active Fire Map: http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/lg_fire2.php

West Fork Fire Complex (includes West Fork, Windy Pass and Papoose Fires)

Fire Name	West Fork Fire Complex: West Fork Fire| Papoose Fire| Windy Pass Fire
Fire Start Date	June 5, 2013
Location/County	Archuleta and Hindsdale
Cause	Lightning
Acres	94,476
Containment	7%
Evacuations	~100
Fatalities	None Reported
Structures Lost	None Reported
Resources	1,464 Personnel Assigned
Executive Order Issued	Yes
Funding	Disaster Emergency Fund, Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
Information Sources	www.inciweb.org, SEOC Status Report, West Fork PIO, GACC Large Incident Report

East Peak Fire

 

Fire Name	East Peak Fire
Fire Start Date	June 19, 2013
Location/County	Huerfano County
Cause	Lightning
Acres	13,572
Containment	95%
Evacuations	None Reported
Fatalities	None Reported
Structures Lost	28  structures (10 homes)
Resources	5 Personnel Assigned
Executive Order Issued	Yes
Funding	Disaster Emergency Fund, Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)
Information Sources	www.inciweb.org, SEOC Status Report, East Peak PIO

East Fork Fire

Fire Name	East Fork Fire
Fire Start Date	June 15, 2013
Location/County	Gunnison County
Cause	Lightning
Acres	447
Containment	40%
Evacuations	Campgrounds around Silver Jack Reservoir and Owl Creek Pass, 35 pre-evacuations
Fatalities	None Reported
Structures Lost	None Reported
Resources	287 Personnel Assigned
Executive Order Issued	No – Federal Land
Funding	Federal Land
Information Sources	www.inciweb.org, SEOC Status Report

Big Meadows Fire

Fire Name	Big Meadows Fire
Fire Start Date	June 10, 2013
Location/County	Grand County/ Rocky Mountain National Park
Cause	Lightning
Acres	652
Containment	95%
Evacuations	None Reported
Fatalities	None Reported
Structures Lost	None Reported
Resources	23 Personnel Assigned
Executive Order Issued	Yes
Funding	Federal Land
Information Sources	www.inciweb.org, SEOC Status Report

Ox Cart Fire

Fire Name	Ox Cart Fire
Fire Start Date	June 9, 2013
Location/County	Rio Grande NF, San Isabel NF, Saguache and Fremont Counties
Cause	Lightning
Acres	1,152
Containment	95%
Evacuations	None Reported
Fatalities	None Reported
Structures Lost	None Reported
Resources	167 Personnel Assigned
Executive Order Issued	No – Federal Land
Funding	Federal Land
Information Sources	www.inciweb.org, SEOC Status Report

Today’s Fire Outlook

The fire situation rating for the Rocky Mountain Area has increased to Preparedness Level 4. The Nation remains at a Preparedness Level 3. This rating indicates highly complex large fire activity is occurring, with multiple large fires in the zone. Fire severity is extreme as reported in multiple areas, and fires are escaping initial attack, as evident by the number of large fires. Multiple regional dispatch centers are experiencing an incident requiring type-1 or type-2 teams, and a majority of zone resources are committed.

Monthly Seasonal Outlook from the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center: http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

Colorado Fire Restriction Information

There is no current state-wide fire restriction. Each county is responsible for enacting appropriate restrictions.

View COEM’s current map of Colorado Fire Restrictions at: https://www.google.com/fusiontables/embedviz?viz=MAP&q=select+col4+from+1o76CJOtWMM37FdAb-dpQdTeUlwkbC0oBFAETH78&h=false&lat=39.02634487425597&lng=-105.550565&z=7&t=1&l=col4

Colorado Weather Watches and Warnings Information

There are active fire weather watches and warnings Colorado. For more information visit http://www.weather.gov/alerts-beta/co.php?x=1. A map can be viewed at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/firewx/main.php.

Colorado Smoke Outlook

For information about wildfire smoke visit http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/wildfire.aspx
For information on Colorado air quality visit  http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/advisory.aspx