Fire Activity 8/25/2020

 

Willis Creek Fire

 See updates below bullet statements

Time Reported: 8/25/20 at 7:26 am

• Size:  16 acres 
• Location: Pueblo County, San Carlos Ranger District, 1.5 miles North East of Lake Isabel, CO.
• Jurisdiction: USFS, CO.
• Resources: Forest Service, BLM and multiple cooperators, 1 Type 3 Helicopter, 1 Type 1 Helicopter, 3 Large Air Tankers (LAT).
• Containment: 100%
• Controlled:  9/5/2020
• Structures Threatened: N\A
• Pre-Evacuations and Evacuations:  Pre-evacuation notices were lifted on 8/26. Please go to the Custer County Emergency Management Facebook page for current information related to pre-evacuations, evacuations, and closures.  Pre-evacuation notices were in effect for:  San Isabel; Highway 165 from Highway 78 (12-Mile Road) to San Isabel; and Highway 78 from San Carlos Trailhead to Highway 165.  
• Closures: none
• Cause: lightning
• Fuels: Mixed Conifer/ Brush
• #WillisCreekfire_CO

Update 8/28/2020 at 2:30 pm: The #WillisCreekfire_CO is 100% contained. Firefighters remain on the fire working towards achieving controlled status. #SanCarlosRD

Update 8/28/2020 at 8:00 am:  There's one 20 person hand-crew on the fire today that will be improving fireline and mopping up hotspots.  Incident released two hand-crews that will be resigned to other fires and the Monument Helitac was also released and will be available for initial attack on any new fire.

Update 8/27/2020 at 3:00 pm:  The incident transitioned from a Type 3 to a Type 4 team at 3:00 pm today.

Update 8/26/2020 at 8:30 pm:  The type 1 helicopters and county resources have been released from the incident.  

Update 8/26/2020 at 5:00 pm:  Willis Creek Fire has 75% containment

Update 8/26/2020 at 3:30 pm:  All pre-evacuation notices have been lifted.  

Update 8/26/2020 at 8:00 am:  Firefighters worked through the night and there was no increase in the size of the fire.  Today firefighters will continue to construct fire line and watch for spot fires outside the perimeter of the main fire.  Helicopter drops will continue.  Structure protection resources are staffed at Aspen Acres subdivision and the Scout Camp.  

Update 8/25/2020 at 8:00 pm:  The #WillisCreekfire_CO is 16 acres.  The change in acreage is due to firefighters mapping the perimeter on the ground.  The fire is 25% contained tonight.  

Update 8/25/2020 at 3:00 pm:  The Type 1 Helicopter is utilizing Lake Isabel as a dipping site.  Highway 165 will be closed for short intervals as the helicopter dips.  There are three Type 2 crews en route.  Rye High School is the staging area for firefighters.  Highway 165 from Rye to the fire location will see increased firefighting traffic.  Please avoid the area, if possible.  

Map of location:

Photos and videos:

08/26/2020 - early morning

Photos from firefighters on the line:

Clean burn, Fuels consumed almost 100%

Hose lay

Fire Activity 8/23/2020

 

 

    Thorpe Fire

 See updates below bullet statements

Time Reported: 8/23/20 at 1:02 pm

• Size:  159
• Location: Park County, South Park Ranger District, off Forest Service Road 230 and Park County Road 31, west of Lake George, CO. 2 miles SW of Tarryall, CO
• Jurisdiction: US Forest Service, CO.
• Resources: Multiple agencies assisting including: Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Park County, El Paso County, Douglas County and Teller County;  1 bulldozer; 1 type 3 helicopter; 3 Large Air Tankers (LAT), 1 Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT).  
• Containment: 100%
• Controlled: 9/18/20 @ 10:00 am size 156 acres
• Structures Threatened: yes
• Evacuations:  Evacuations have been lifted and residents will be allowed to return to their home at 7:00 pm but will be in pre-evacuation status.  Information can be found on the Park County website:  https://parkco.us/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=Thorp-Fire-43.  

• Closures: Forest Service Roads 227 and 231.  County  Roads 31 and 44.

• Cause: unknown
• Concerns:  
• Fuels: grass and timber
• #Thorpefire_CO, fire has also been referred to as #230Fire.  Official fire information will be using #Thorpefire_CO.  

Update 9/02/2020, 3:30 pm:  There is a change involving road closures on the #Thorpefire_CO.  Forest Service road 230(FS rd 230) will be open to FS Rd. 227.1A and FS Rd 227 will be open to FS Rd 227.1A.  FS Rd. 227 is a spur road off Road 44.  Public will be able to do a loop using FS Rd. 227.1A from FS Roads 230 and 227.  Public will not be able to drive west past the intersection of FS Rd. 230 and 227.1A or 227 and 227.1A. Firefighters are still staffing the fire so be on the look out for Fire equipment while in the area.

Update 8/27/2020, 5:30 pm:  Planned resources for tomorrow:  10 person module, 4 person module, 1 tender, and 2 engines.  

Update 8/27/2020, 8:00 am:  Today resources will include a 10 person module, a 5 person module, and 3 engines.  The planned burn for the interior will not occur as the weather for the next few days is not conducive.  

Update 8/26/2020, 1:30 pm:  The #Thorpefire_CO remains at 75% contained.  The area received 1/4 inch of rain last night.  There is a small unburned area within the interior of the fire perimeter that fire officials would like to burn in the next few days.  It will help to secure the perimeter.  Due to the rain, firefighters are assessing the best time to burn to allow for the greatest amount of clean-up of dead and downed trees.  The public may see increased smoke when this occurs, but Forest Service officials will inform the public before burning commences.  Resources on scene today include a 20 person crew, a 10 person crew, 3 engines, and a Module.   

Update 8/25/2020, 8:00 pm:  The #Thorpefire_CO is currently 75% contained.  There are 48 resources assigned to the fire.  The team will transition to a Type 4 team tomorrow morning.

Update 8/24/2020, 6:00 pm:  The #Thorpefire_CO is currently 50% contained.  There are now approximately 110 firefighters on scene.  Evacuations have been lifted and residents will be allowed to return to their homes at 7:00 pm but will remain in pre-evacuation status.  

Update 8/24/2020, 11:00 am:  New acreage due to crews walking the perimeter of the fire and mapping with GPS.  The MMA flight picked up only hot spots during the night.  Cold spots on the perimeter were not detected.  The fire has not grown in actual size, but better mapping has produced a more accurate number.    

Update 8/24/2020, 9:00 am:  A late night flight of the Thorpe Fire by the Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) has mapped the current size of the fire at 83 acres. The decrease in acreage is due to the more accurate mapping by the MMA. Crews made good progress overnight in utilizing natural and man-made barriers as fire lines. Today, firefighters will continue to improve these barriers as well as the fireline built by fire crews and the bulldozer.  Evacuations remain in place and can be found on the Park County Sheriff's Office webpage.  There are approximately 50 firefighters on scene with two Type 2 hand crews en route. 

Update 8/23/2020, 8 pm:  The Thorpe fire is currently estimated to be 150 acres burning in grass and timber. The Park County Sheriff's Office has implemented evacuations in the area of the fire which include campers along Forest Service Road 227 and 231 as well as County Roads 31 and 44. Webber Park Subdivision has also been evacuated (See Park County Alert Center for all current pre-evacuations and evacuations https://parkco.us/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=Thorp-Fire-43 ). The Thorpe fire has had a moderate rate of spread today and firefighters have been utilizing air resources to slow the fire as firefighters protect values at risk and make a direct attack on the fire where possible. Tonight, firefighters will be utilizing natural and man-made barriers with an indirect attack where possible.

 

Map of fire location:

Video and Photos:

Fire Activity 8/22/20

 

Kootchie Kootchie Fire

 Park County Fire Information # 719-836-4307

Forest Service is assisting, do not call Forest Service for fire information.

Time Reported: 8/22/20 at 2:15 pm

• Size: 1 acre
• Location: Park County, 6 miles NW of Fairplay, CO.off Hwy 9 and Kootchie Kootchie Road, CO.
• Jurisdiction:  Park County, CO. PVT land
• Resources: County Resources and Type 3 Helicopter , Forest Services resources assisting.
• Containment:
• Controlled:
• Structures Threatened: several
• Evacuation: Lifted
• Closures: none
• Cause: Human
• Concerns:  
• Fuels: Grass and Timber
• #Kootchiekootchiefire_CO

Map of location:

 

Fire Activity 8.21.2020

 Severy Creek Fire

 

Time Reported: 8/21/20 at 8:05 am

• Size:  0.10 acre
• Location: Near Severy Creek on the north slope of Pikes Peak, approximately 11 miles West/Northwest of Colorado Springs
• Jurisdiction: USFS, CO.
• Resources: 1 helicopter with firefighting resources
• Containment: 100%, 8/21/2020, 3:30 pm
• Controlled: 9/16/20 @ 09:00 am 1/10 acre in size
• Structures Threatened: N\A
• Evacuation: N\A
• Closures: none
• Cause: lightning
• Fuels: Mixed conifer

#SeveryCreekFire_CO

Update 8/23/2020, 11:30: Today the Severy Creek Fire is producing visible smoke that is coming from the interior of the fire as the dry "duff" continues to smolder in some places. "Duff" is a layer of compacted pine needles and grasses at the base of the mixed conifer trees along the forest floor that can retain heat deep within the duff layer. All hotspots were well inside the perimeter of the fire and within the firelines that were created yesterday. Firefighters are currently utilizing the helicopter for transport into the fire as well as using bucket drops of water to help cool the hot spots. Smoke will likely continue to be visible from time to time as the interior fuels continue to smolder. Crews will continue to monitor the fire and mop up hotspots as needed.

Update: 8/21/2020, 4:30 pm: Firefighters continued to make good progress this afternoon and were able to bring containment to 100%, keeping the fire to 0.10 of an acre. There have been no reported injuries and all USFS Crews have hiked out of the fire for the day. Crews will continue to monitor this fire for the next few days. There is no longer smoke showing from the Severy Creek Fire however there is still smoke in the area from other fires across Colorado.  

Update: 8/21/2020, 1 pm: Firefighters have been able to gain access to the Severy Creek Fire. They are utilizing water drops from the helicopter which has helped them make good progress towards containment. Some containment is expected this afternoon. Fire is still .10 acre

Update: 8/21/2020, 10:30 am: Crews are responding to a new wildfire on the North Slope of Pikes Peak. This is a small wildfire however the smoke is very visible to the public. Crews are currently trying to gain access to the fire as it is currently burning in very steep and rugged terrain. The fire is currently .10 of an acre. 

Photo of the Severy Creek Fire sent in by fire crews (8/21/2020, 10:00 am)

Approximate location of the Severy Creek Fire

Fire Activity 8/18/2020

 

Stull Mtn. Fire

 

Time Reported: 8/18/20 at 1:34 pm

• Size:  0.65 acres
• Location: Custer County, San Carlos Ranger District, 3 miles north of McKenzie Junction, West of Wetmore Co.
• Jurisdiction: USFS, CO.
• Resources: two Forest Service engines and 1 module, Wet Mountain Fire engine,  Custer County resources,  one large air-tanker ordered, LAT released after one drop
• Containment: 100% 8/19/2020 3:01 pm
• Controlled:  8/21/20  @ 6:46 pm
• Structures Threatened: N\A
• Evacuation: N\A
• Closures: none
• Cause: Lightning
• Fuels:mixed conifer

#StullMtnfire_CO

Update:  The Stull Mountain Fire is controlled as of 8/21/20 at 6:46 pm.

Map of location:

Grape Creek Fire

 

Time Reported: 8/18/20 at 3:51 pm

• Size: 1 acre
• Location: Park County, South Park Ranger District, 2 miles South East of Florissant, CO.
• Jurisdiction: USFS, CO.
• Resources: 2 Forest Service engines and 1 squad,
• Containment: 8/18/20 at 5:33 pm for 1 acre
• Controlled: 8/19/20 at 3:26 
• Structures Threatened: N\A
• Evacuation: N\A
• Closures: none
• Cause: lighting
• Concerns:  
• Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, Grass
• #Grapecreekfire

Map of location:

 

 

Fire Activity 8/09/2020

 

Spruce Road Fire

 

Time Reported: 8/09/20 at 9:38 am

• Size: 0.1 acres
• Location: Teller County, Pikes Peak Ranger District, 8 miles north of Woodland Park, CO.
• Jurisdiction: USFS, CO.
• Resources: 1 Forest Service engine,
• Containment: 100% 8/9/20 10:46 for 0.1 acre
• Controlled: 8/9/20 at 10:50 for 0.1 acre
• Structures Threatened: N\A
• Evacuation: N\A
• Closures: none
• Cause: Human Caused. campfire
• Concerns:  
• Fuels: Snags, grass
• #Spruceroadfire_CO

Map of location:

 

Fire Activity

 

    Cabin Ridge Fire

 

Time Reported: 8/07/20 at 6:21 pm

• Size: 0.1 acres
• Location: Douglas County, South Platte Ranger District, 6 miles east of Perry Park, CO.
• Jurisdiction: USFS, CO.
• Resources: Forest Service engine,
• Containment:100% a/t 8:20 pm 8/7/20
• Controlled: 1:16 pm, 8/8/20 size 0.1 acre
• Structures Threatened: N\A
• Evacuation: N\A
• Closures: none
• Cause: Human
• Fuels: Ponderosa Pine, needles
• #Cabinridgefire_Co

Map of location: