Central Coast Interagency Incident Management Team 7 – Mark Nunez, Incident
Commander
East Zone Phone: 719-569-4149
West Zone Phone: 970-731-2432
Hours of operation: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
East Zone Email:WestForkFire.EastZone@gmail.com
West Zone Email: westforkfire@gmail.com**
* *
*July 5, 2013*
*9:00 am*
*Special Messages: *A transfer of command will take place from Rocky
Mountain Incident Management Team (Blume) – Type 1 – to another Type 1
Incident Management Team, Eastern Great Basin (Lund) at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow
morning.
* *
*Current Situation:*
*East Zone of the West Fork Complex (Includes Papoose and Eastern Part of
West Fork Fires) *
The strategies for operations on the fire include continuing protection for
structures and high value resources, as well as confining the fire to areas
where it will not pose a threat to local communities during the remainder
of the summer. **
* *
*Papoose Fire: *Yesterday, fire activity was minimal, with single trees
burning and deep needle litter (duff) continuing to burn. Over the last
few days, Papoose has not seen the moisture that West Fork has. This has
caused continued drying of vegetation. With increased wind in the afternoons, the potential for fire spreading and spotting is high daily. Firefighters
continue mop up around structures and chipping vegetation that will cause
any increased fire hazard. Helicopters will aid firefighters in keeping any hot areas of the fire from spreading. The fire continues to be active in the northwest, near the Reservoir, and along Highway 149. Burn out operations along some of the meadows near Highway 149 is planned again today which will allow firefighters the opportunity to even out the fire line and achieve confinement.
*Eastern Part of West Fork Fire:* Firefighters will continue chipping
operations around homes where limbs and brush were cleared so fire hazard
is reduced. Firefighters will continue fireline construction through the
Elk Mountain area and monitor areas along Highway 160 where fire remains
active.
*West Zone of West Fork Complex (Includes Western Part of West Fork and
Windy Pass Fires)*
Minimal fire growth occurred on the fire last night. Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor the fire and are poised to respond to any new fire starts that may have occurred during the past few days. The fires will continue to be monitored by air.
*West Zone West Fork Fire:* There was very little activity last evening. The
West Zone of the West Fork fire is the portion of the fire burning south of
the continental divide. Structure protection is still in place for the Wolf
Creek Ski Area, Borns Lake Cabins, and Bruce Spruce Resort. The West Fork
Campground is open.
*Windy Pass Fire:* Monitoring by air will continue today as well as Firefighters continue to patrol and monitor the fire area.
*Weather:* Moisture will continue to increase Friday and into the
weekend. This will set the stage for scattered showers and thunderstorms. An increase of widespread precipitation will be Sunday. Temperatures will be in the mid 70’s with winds from the West to Northwest. Minimal moisture was observed on the fire last evening.
*Public Health and Safety:* Smoke monitors are in place in Pagosa Springs,
Freemon’s Ranch, Creede, and South Fork. The monitors are identified as
#78 (Creede), #69 (Freemon’s Ranch), #25 (South Fork), and #65 (Pagosa
Springs). All monitors can be accessed through the map located at:
http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/smoke.pl. Times displayed are in GMT – subtract 6 hours to get local time (MDT). For the official Colorado Smoke
Outlook, please visit http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colo_advisory.aspxand
http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/wildfire.aspx for further health advisory information.
Please use caution when traveling along Highways 149 and 160. Heavy fire
traffic can be expected along the highways and within the communities of
South Fork, Creede, and Del Norte. In addition, heavy holiday traffic is
expected in the same area, and including Pagosa Springs. Please do not
stop along the roads to take pictures of the fire or firefighters as doing
so could impede fire operations.
*Evacuations and Closures:* Some communities still remain under
evacuation, others on pre-evacuation notice. Residents are reminded to
remain vigilant and be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice in the
event that fire activity changes. Visit
http://westforkfirecomplex.blogspot.com/ for a list of areas currently under evacuation or pre-evacuation. The list will be updated as conditions change.
For additional information on road and trail closures and fire restrictions
affecting the San Juan National Forest go to:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices.
For additional information on road and trail closures and fire restrictions
affecting the Rio Grande National Forest go to:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/riogrande/.
*Fire Information Meetings:* None scheduled at this time.
*Media Briefings: *There are no scheduled media briefings.* *
*Fire Statistics: *
*Location: *14.5 miles north/northeast of Pagosa Springs, CO*
Start Date: *06/05/2013
Complex Size:* 110,028 acres
Complex Size:* 110,028 acres
Windy Pass: 1,417 acres
Papoose: 48,652 acres
West Fork: 59,959 acres
*Percent** Contained: *20%
*Cause:* Lightning
*Cause:* Lightning
Total Staff: 1,169
*Resources Include:* 7 Type 1 hand crews, 11 Type 2 hand crews, 56 engines, 2 dozers, 17 water tenders, and overhead personnel
Air Resources:* 6 Type 1 helicopters, 1 Type 2 helicopters, and 5 Type 3
helicopters.
*Places to get information: *
*Blog: *http://westforkfirecomplex.blogspot.com/ **
*Website:*http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3436/
*Twitter: @rmt1pio*
*Facebook:* https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtn.Type1.IMT.PIOs.
*Information Boards:* Information is posted at the Pagosa Springs Visitor
Information Center, Freemon's Ranch near Creede, the Forest Service office
in Creede, and at the Del Norte High School.
*Photos:* http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/WestForkComplex/library/
--
Public Information Officer
Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team
*Resources Include:* 7 Type 1 hand crews, 11 Type 2 hand crews, 56 engines, 2 dozers, 17 water tenders, and overhead personnel
Air Resources:* 6 Type 1 helicopters, 1 Type 2 helicopters, and 5 Type 3
helicopters.
*Places to get information: *
*Blog: *http://westforkfirecomplex.blogspot.com/ **
*Website:*http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3436/
*Twitter: @rmt1pio*
*Facebook:* https://www.facebook.com/RockyMtn.Type1.IMT.PIOs.
*Information Boards:* Information is posted at the Pagosa Springs Visitor
Information Center, Freemon's Ranch near Creede, the Forest Service office
in Creede, and at the Del Norte High School.
*Photos:* http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/WestForkComplex/library/
--
Public Information Officer
Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team
