Single Publication

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One 

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander   

Special Statement: This will be the last written update provided by the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team. On Saturday May 21, 2022 at 7:00AM the fire is transitioning to a Type 4 Incident Management Organization. 

 

Current Situation:  

Due to the continued great work by firefighters, containment has increased to 89%.  The fire area is predicted to receive 3 - 6 inches of snow over the next 24 hours. The remaining uncontained section of the fire is on the steep and rocky south end of Division Z east of Booger Red Hill and Fourmile Creek.  Crews will continue to work in this area going direct where it is safe to do so to reduce hotspots next to the line. Crews will continue to patrol contained sections of the fireline looking for hotspots.  

 

Yesterday there was a flare up on the interior of the fire and crews were quickly able to reduce the smoke. This is an important reminder that even when 100% perimeter containment is achieved, the interior of the fire will continue to smolder throughout the summer due to large stumps and heavy fuels.  

 

As containment increases and threat from the fire diminishes, rehabilitation work will begin. Brush and other materials will be pulled back over hand lines, dozer lines, staging areas and safety zones used during the fire suppression effort.  As much of the work on the fire nears completion, some resources are being demobilized and made available for reassignment to other fires.   

 

Safety:  The public is advised to stay out of burned areas due to the serious hazard of falling trees, ash pits, hot soil and loose debris. Additionally, please slow down and turn your lights on when traveling on roads adjacent to the fire area.  Heavy fire traffic should be expected, and firefighters may be working adjacent to roads. 

 

Evacuations and Fire Restrictions: All road closures and evacuations have been lifted for the High Park Fire.   

 

Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands across the Royal Gorge Field Office beginning on May 19, 2022. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xuFcR. Teller County remains under Stage 2 fire restrictions. 

High Park Fire Statistics: 

Size: estimated at 1,572 acres 

Containment: 89% 

Total Personnel: 305 

Location: 5.5 miles west of Cripple Creek, Teller County, Colorado 

Reported: May 12, 2022   

For More Information on High Park Fire: 

Teller County Sheriff PIO, Renee Bunting: (719) 661 - 5913  

Fire email: buntingr@co.teller 

Teller County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tellersheriff 

Incident Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highparkfire2022  

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8102/