Thursday morning roll-up: Information from various sources...

Lightner Ck Fire:

The Information Hotline is no longer active. It will be re-activated if the need arises. Current information can be found through http://www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan

The Pre-evacuation notices for CR 207/208 are still in effect until further notice.

DURANGO INTERAGENCY FIRE DISPATCH

San Juan National Forest * Bureau of Land Management * National Parke Service

Colorado State Forest Service * Bureau of Indian Affairs

As of 5:30 PM, the LIghtner Fire was estimated at 60 acres. Retardant lines along the top and shoulders of Barnroof Mountain were holding well and the fire had not spread beyond the north side of Barnroof. A SEAT and two helicopters worked the fire until about 7:30 PM. There were two 20-person crews building containment line along the lower portions of the fire but no estimate of containment was available. A light rain began falling around 7:00 and the humidity level was up to 45% which should moderate fire behavior.

Though the immediate threat to homes has lessened greatly, Durango Fire & Rescue Authority notified residents in the area that they would remain under a pre-evacuation notice until 3:00 PM Thursday. An engine will patrol County Road 208 tonight to watch for spot fires.

The Escarpment Fire, burning near Mesa Verde, was estimated at 50 acres. Firefighters will not be on the fire overnight, but approximately 30 firefighters will be on scene tomorrow.

Firefighters responded to 20 new fires today across southwest Colorado. Many were just single trees burning after being hit by lightning, but several got larger like the Lake Nighthorse 1.7 acres), Escarpment, and Lightner Fires.

Pam Wilson

Fire Information Officer

Weber Canyon Fire:

DAILY UPDATE: Weber Fire

June 28, 2012 9:00 a.m.

Contact: Beth Hermanson, Public Information Officer

Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team C

www.inciweb.org

Phone Number: (720) 425-5018 or (720) 219-8823

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Satellite Information Center: (Walk-in) Mancos Community Center 10:30 a.m. to 5:30p.m.

Weber Fire Showed Little Growth Yesterday

MANCOS, Colo. - Firefighters continue to make progress on containing the Weber Fire near Mancos, Colorado. More mop-up has been completed along burned areas on the fire perimeter, bringing the containment up to 35 percent. The acreage has been revised to 9,279 acres due to more accurate mapping. There was minimal fire growth yesterday.

With the cooler, more humid weather the last two days, firefighters have been able to work on more of the indirect containment lines. These lines are forming a “box” for the expected growth of the fire. As the fire spreads down the steep, rugged slopes and firefighters burn out the fuels on the edges of the fire, the chance of the fire spreading beyond this box is greatly decreased.

One tool being used to help create containment lines is a masticator or hydro axe. This is a rubber tired machine that operates much like a big lawnmower, which grinds up vegetation, making it less likely to burn. It is being used to cut a swath through twenty-foot tall dense vegetation west of East Canyon, creating a fuel break. Firefighters can burn out safely from this line to clean up fuels and keep the fire from spreading further down the slope.

Today’s forecast is calling for a shift toward warmer, drier weather with a chance of dry lightning in the afternoon. The extended forecast is for a warming and drying trend through the weekend.

The evacuation order has been lifted for homes on the east side of County Road 41, north of the County Road G junction, affecting about 30 residences. The mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for residences south of County Road G, south of Highway 160 north of the fire, and on the east side of the fire, including the Elk Spring Ranch and Elk Stream Subdivisions.

Highway 160 and Mesa Verde National Park are open. County Road 41 is open south to County Road G. The portion of County Road 41 south of County Road G is still closed.

The next community meeting is scheduled on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Mancos High School Performing Arts Auditorium.

Information about this and other fires can be found at www.inciweb.org. Follow us on Twitter @weberfireinfo.

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State Line Fire

Crews are maintaining a vigilant watch and continuing to extinguish any remaining hot spots.

Little Sand Fire

DURANGO INTERAGENCY FIRE DISPATCH

U.S. Forest Service w Archuleta County w Hinsdale County w Bureau of Land Management w National Park Service w Bureau of Indian Affairs w Colorado State Forest Service

Little Sand Fire Daily Update – June 28, 2012 7:30 AM – San Juan National Forest

Community Meeting

Vallecitos Community Center

6:00 pm June 28, 2012

Overall activity was quiet on Wednesday. Incident Operations reported some light moisture over the fire and generally cooler conditions. Resources assigned to the Little Sand Fire assisted the San Juan National Forest with response to two very small fires caused by lightning activity. A helicopter was also dispatched to assist in the suppression of the Lightner Creek Fire near Durango. Within the southwest perimeter of the Little Sand Fire, movement occurred to the west side of the Davis Creek drainage into an area previously treated with prescribed burns in 2009. It remains north of the Piedra River. Little activity was observed in other areas.

Conditions today are forecast to be drier with a Red Flag Warning in place from 11:00 am to midnight due to heat, lower humidity, and winds with the possibility of dry lightning from nearby thunderstorms. Early morning air inversions will continue to create smoke problems in lower areas associated with the fire.

Resources from the Little Sand Fire will continue to assist the San Juan National Forest in responding to new fires in areas near the main fire. Fire resources will protect structures in the Weminuche Valley. Personnel will be evaluating potential contingency options if the fire should cross to the east side of the Valley. Crews will also be watching for spot fires south of the Piedra River.

In the Vallecito area, the Slide Mountain Trail is closed at the end of Beaver Meadow, and the East Creek Trail (FT 535) is closed at the North Canyon Trailhead. All other trails in the Vallecito area are open. Other closures exist for areas immediately adjacent to the fire. The Poison Park Road (FR 644), and the portion of the Piedra River Road (FR 631) that leads to the Poma Ranch are closed due to fire activity. Closure information may be found at offices of the San Juan National Forest.

Recreation areas along the Piedra River corridor leading to the Williams Creek Reservoir and ending at the Palisades Horse Camp are open for visitors with the exception of Williams Creek Campground. Guides and outfitters are open for business and rerouting their trips as necessary to avoid the fire. Pagosa Springs and the Vallecito areas are open for business as usual.

Fire Statistics at a Glance:

Start Date: May 13th, 2012 Cause: Lightning Acreage: 23,400

Containment: 31% Personnel: 234 Hand Crews: 3

Structures Destroyed: 0 Aviation: 4 helicopters Engines: 13

Dozers: 1 Injuries: 0 Cost to Date: $5.910 Million

Cooperating Agencies: Hinsdale County, Archuleta County, USFS, CSFS

Information on the Little Sand Fire may be obtained by calling (970) 444-2201 or from the following web sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Sand-COFire/447627881921625

Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104028533250808441708/posts

Little Sand Blog: http://littlesandcofire.wordpress.com/

About Me: http://about.me/little_sand_cofire

Inciweb: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2878/