Fire
The Oak Ridge fire is currently at 1240 acres with 59 percent
containment. It still remains three miles northwest of
Beulah. 

Smoke
On Sunday we will see possible light smoke west of Beulah
late in the afternoon into the evening. Changing winds in
the area will keep the smoke near the fire. Possible showers
and thunderstorms in the Beulah area with gusty winds late
into the afternoon. Canon City, Florence Westcliffe,
Wetmore, Pueblo, and Colorado City areas will have GOOD air
quality today. Information on the air quality and smoke
impacts in the area are on the link below. 

Using a combination of drip torches and aerial ignition, firefighters were able to complete the strategic firing operation on the southeastern corner of the fire (Div. K) yesterday. This work gained an additional 200-300' of blackened ground within the containment line. The widened containment line will help to secure that corner of the fire in an area that is safer and more accessible for firefighters, protecting values at risk including Beulah and the Middle Creek Watershed.   

At the July 1 community meeting, the team had discussed an overall strategy that would have utilized strategic firing operations over a much larger area. Moderated weather and fuel conditions have thus far allowed fire managers to shrink the larger planned area that was presented using ground resources to build direct containment lines on the fire’s edge. The fire is now anticipated to safely stay within a much smaller footprint. Additional strategic firing operations are not planned at this time unless conditions change. Firefighters will continue to monitor hotspots within the fire perimeter including recently burned areas. When conditions warrant, the backhaul of equipment and rehabilitation of containment lines will proceed in Div. K. Over the rest of the fire, backhaul and rehabilitation are currently in progress. 

Additional smoke is anticipated to be in the Beulah area today. The hotter and drier weather is allowing fuels within the perimeter to smoke and burn, including the area of the firing operation in Div. K. Individuals that are sensitive to smoke may want to limit their time outdoors. The U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program daily smoke outlook report specific to the fire area may be found at https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/d9fa3c77.    

Monday is the last day that the public information boards in Westcliffe, Wetmore, San Isabel and Bishop Castle will be available. The board at the Beulah General Store will remain and public information will still be available via the methods at the bottom of this page.   

Weather & Smoke Information:  Winds will shift this morning from north/northwest to east by 9:00 a.m. Maximum temperatures will reach 83 and relative humidity levels will be at 25%. Thunderstorms are likely this afternoon.  

Closures: The San Carlos Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests issued an area, trail and road closure effective June 26, 2024. Go to www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/psicc/alerts-notices for the entire order.   

Evacuations: Areas in Pueblo County that are on pre-evacuation status include Middle Creek Canyon Road, Vine Mesa, Cascade Avenue, Pine Avenue and Beulah Highlands Road. Go to  www.puebloemergency.info. for more information.  

Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a 24-hour a day Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area. The TFR includes restrictions against private drones. Air incursions will impede firefighting efforts and ground our aircraft. All air incursions will be immediately reported to law enforcement.   

OAK RIDGE FIRE INFORMATION   

Fire Information Phoneline:  719-315-1536 Time: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.   

Facebook: @OakRidgeFire2024   Email: 2024.oakridge@firenet.gov      

InciWeb: www.inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/copsf-oak-ridge-fire    

#ShellyFire

July 6, evening update:

The Shelly Fire has crossed the Pacific Crest Trail. Two Very Large Air Tankers and helicopters have been ordered to assist. Additional resources from the Klamath National Forest and CAL FIRE are also enroute.

Shelly Fire - July 6, 2024

Sat, 07/06/2024 - 23:42

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Shelly Fire - July 6, 2024

Shelly Fire became active in the evening.

INCIWEB UPDATE

SOUTH FORK AND SALT BAER ASSESSMENTS

JULY 6, 2024

This is the final InciWeb update for the Department of the Interior (DOI) and USDA Forest Service (USFS) Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment team. The team completed BAER plans for submission to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and two (initial and interim) funding emergency treatment requests for submission to the USFS Southwest Regional Office.

Yesterday, the team provided a close-out briefing to the Mescalero Apache Tribe and today, a close-out briefing to the Lincoln National Forest on respective treatments and cost estimates. These close-out meetings both discussed treatments that will cross jurisdictional boundaries to be effective. This morning, the team presented their findings to a room full of cooperating authorities like the village, city, counties, state, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). While the land managers, BIA and USFS, wait for funding approvals, the group will begin organizing around treatments on non-federal lands downstream from the burned areas.

Additional information on understanding the BAER program, process and other post-fire information is posted on the South Fork and Salt BAER InciWeb page found at: Nmmea South Fork And Salt Fires Burned Area Emergency Response Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov).

For further information on the status of the BAER reports, plans and implementation of the proposed treatments, please contact:

• Mescalero Apache Tribe, Elaina LaPaz, elapaz@mescaleroapachetribe.com
• Lincoln National Forest, Amanda Fry, amanda.fry@usda.gov

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/abq/.

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We'd like to applaud all of the home and landowners in the community who have proactively been inquiring about mitigation! Preparing your home for wildfire and reducing wildfire risks in the Home Ignition Zone helps keep firefighters safe, but also increases the likelihood that your house does not burn!

Beulah residents can haul and pile their slash to the slash pile site at the Beulah Fire Protection and Ambulance District Station daily. These sites are for the removal of woody debris, including limbs and branches, (no commercial operators allowed).

It’s never too late to mitigate!

If you need more information on how to mitigate your property, check out, https://csfs.colostate.edu/.../2021_CSFS_HIZGuide_Web.pdf...

Firefighters on the #oakridgefire_co are assisting with community mitigation efforts through chipping operations along firelines. Chipping reduces the amount of debris and large ground litter and reduces ground fuels that help fire spread.

CURRENT SITUATION: The eastern flank of the fire adjacent to Forest Road 3N01 experienced more active yesterday. Hand crews burned from Forest Road 3N01 back into the fire, widening the containment line and burning out some of the remaining interior fuel pockets. Most of the fire continues to experience low to moderate fire behavior and a slow rate of spread. Dozer line has been completed on the southeast side of the fire. Hand crews working from the west side of the fire were able to connect the line from Forest Road 2N29 and out of Bourland Creek to the dozer line. The fire is still hung up in the Lost Creek drainage with little forward progression. The high numbers of standing dead trees remains a threat to fire lines and fire fighters.

Today crews will continue to hold and improve the fire lines, including felling snags and mopping up to widen the lines. The plan also includes putting in hose lays along Forest Road 2N85 and the southern dozer line to further secure these areas.
 

BACKGROUND: The Sheering Fire started on June 24, 2024, at approximately 7:19 pm. It was one of several fires that resulted from an unusual lightning event that moved through the area that day. In addition to the Sheering Fire, two fires were ignited in the Clavey River drainage which is where the 2013 Rim Fire started. Because of their location and the known potential for those fires to become large quickly, they were the top
priority for fire resources, including air support. They were fully contained and then additional resources moved to the Sheering Fire which has burned with low to moderate intensity and a slow rate of spread over the past 10 days.
 

The Sheering Fire has been a full suppression fire from the beginning. It is located within the 2013 Rim Fire and has many old standing dead trees which makes it a higher risk for firefighters trying to put in handline and mop up into the burn area. Public and firefighter safety is the Forest Service’s highest priority. Because of this fire’s location, its slow rate of spread and its mostly low intensity fire behavior, fire managers have been able to utilize existing roads and natural features for containment lines in several locations around the fire perimeter, protecting both fire fighters and resources in the area.
 

ACREAGE: 485

PERCENT CONTAINED: 12%

TOTAL PERSONNEL: 148
Fire Resources include: 6 Hand Crews, 1 Helicopter, 4 Engines, 1 Dozer, 1 Water Tender
 

For more information contact Forest Public Affairs Officer, Benjamin Cossel at 209-288-6261 or at Benjamin.Cossel@usda.gov.

Current Fire Restrictions

Forest Order 05-07-00-24-11 Fire Use Restrictions: Effective June 29, 2024 - January 31, 2025

Forest Order 05-07-00-24-11

In response to the increasing potential for wildland fire starts, Los Padres National Forest officials announced that fire restrictions will be implemented throughout the Forest effective June 29. These restrictions will affect the use of campfires, stoves, smoking materials, and internal combustion engines, and will remain in effect until January 31, 2025. 

• No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires will be permitted outside of developed recreation sites or designated Campfire Use Sites (list attached), even with a valid California Campfire Permit. Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel will be permitted, but only with a valid California Campfire Permit, which can be obtained free-of-charge at this website. Forest visitors must clear all flammable material for five feet in all directions from their camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person always attends the stove during use.
• Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or a designated Campfire Use Site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
• Internal combustion engines may be operated only on roads or designated trails. This restriction is in effect year-round. Please make sure your engine is tuned, operating properly, and has an approved spark arrester.
• Fireworks – even the “safe and sane” variety – are not permitted at any time or in any location within the Forest.
• Discharging a firearm is prohibited within Los Padres National Forest except while legally hunting or at Winchester Canyon Gun Club and Ojai Valley Gun Club which operate under special use authority.

For a list of Developed Recreation Sites and Campfire Use Sites in Los Padres National Forest, or further information regarding Fire-Safe Camping, visit www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf or contact the U.S. Forest Service district office nearest you.

Grapefruit Complex 

Daily Update: Saturday, July 6th, 2024 

Alaska Incident Management Team 3

Incident Commander- Peter Butteri

Location: 40 Miles north of Fairbanks

Complex Acres: 87,434

Continued widespread rain over the fire has minimized spread. Fire officials are working with the local units to effectively prepare and map structures at risk and critical resources for current and future defense. Protecting structures is the primary focus and objective of firefighters assigned to the Grapefruit Complex, with nearly half of the work complete. Evacuations were adjusted Friday due to the change in fire behavior and weather. A 90% chance of rain with 10-20 mph southwest winds is predicted for Saturday.  

The Grapefruit Complex includes the Globe Fire (#253), Iver Fire (#249), Eagle Fire (#306), Wilber Fire (#308), Noodor Fire (#192), and Fossil Fire (#115). Firefighters are working to prevent fire spread toward property and structures in the area. Crews are also focused on protecting the Elliott Highway, Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Native Allotments, and public and private structures, as well as minimizing impacts to fish habitat along the Tatalina and Tolovana river corridors. Fire activity includes creeping and smoldering. 

Evacuations:  Evacuation levels were reduced on Friday (July 5th). The current levels are represented as:  

Ready (Green): Elliot Hwy MM 18-65 / Set (Yellow): None currently. / Go (red): None currently.  

Smoke: Rain has improved air quality. However, smoke may still be present on the highway mixed with fog. Please exercise caution and patience when driving. Turn on your headlights to help ensure the safety of firefighters and flaggers working in the area. 

Road access:  The Elliott Highway is open. Expect significant delays between Mile  Posts 25-65 if fire activity increases. Firefighters are working out of Wickersham Dome trailhead with increased traffic and heavy equipment exiting and entering the area around Mile Post 28. Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities contracted workers and a pilot car are helping keep the flow of traffic open. Check https://511.alaska.gov/ for road updates.  

Temporary Flight Restriction:  No TFRs are in place over the fire area.  

Closures:  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern Interior Field Office closed the western portion of the White Mountains National Recreation Area surrounding the Wickersham Dome Trailhead at mile 28 Elliott Highway. The closure is in effect until Sept. 1, unless the BLM determines the area is safe for public use at an earlier time.

Public Information Map for Grapefruit Complex, July 6.jpg

Sat, 07/06/2024 - 14:45

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Public Information Map for Grapefruit Complex, July 6.jpg

INCIDENT FACTS:

Incident Start Date:  July 3, 2024         Incident Start Time: 1:27pm                Incident Type: Wildland Fire

Cause: Under Investigation                   Incident Location: Marble Mountain Wilderness

Size: 487 Acres                                     Containment: 0%         

A Public Meeting is Scheduled for tonight July 6th at 7:00 PM 

Quartz Valley Indian Reservation Gym, 9040 Sniktaw Lane, Fort Jones

Current Situation:  Yesterday, four Interagency Hotshot Crews worked along the Pacific Crest Trail constructing additional handline. Southeast of the fire crews scouted for additional containment options. From the south, firefighters accessed the area of Mule Bridge and continued north identifying access to the fire. The fire grew 42 acres in the late afternoon in the Pointers Gulch area, and helicopters were used to limit the fire growth. 

Today, on the northern side of the fire crews will continue to work along the Pacific Crest Trail as well as seek opportunities to work directly at the fire’s edge where possible using aircraft to support their efforts. On the southern side, firefighters will access the area in the Mule Bridge area and continue north to Pointers Gulch providing access to the fire. North and South contingency groups have been established and will be coordinating with CAL FIRE. 

Weather:  

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for this afternoon and evening with a Fire Weather Watch for Sunday afternoon. Gusty northwest winds will develop along ridges this afternoon and evening then shift to the northeast tonight remaining breezy at ridge level but diminishing elsewhere. Today’s weather is forecast to be hot and dry with a maximum temperature of 90-100 degrees in the valley and minimum relative humidity of 8-11%. 

Closures:                                                                                                                                         

An official closure area around the Shelly Fire went into effect on July 4th. Hikers are not permitted in the area and will be asked to leave. For details and a map of the closure area, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1187463.pdf.

Fire Restrictions: 

Forest fire restrictions also went into effect on July 4th. Campfires and stove fires are restricted to those developed areas listed in the forest order located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices/?aid=88596. Smoking, welding, and operating an internal combustion engine also has restrictions in place.

The Lockett Fire experienced moderate growth Thursday evening as winds pushed the fire to 69 acres within the containment perimeter. Fire crews took advantage of calm winds in the area on Friday, constructing line close around the Lockett Fire to moderate spread potential as hot and dry conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.

Light winds today will allow firefighters to continue making improvements to strengthen interior containment lines and patrol and evaluate needs in the Lockett Fire area. Crews will also continue working with archaeologists to provide protection to sensitive sites of cultural significance within the planning area.

Hot and dry conditions with light winds will continue through the weekend with no precipitation expected into next week. The fire is expected to experience slow-to-moderate growth. When conditions are safe to do so, fire managers plan to manage the Lockett Fire in a confine and contain strategy within a predetermined area. Fire will be applied to the landscape through hand ignitions along the forest road and dozer containment lines and aerial ignitions within the perimeter. The intended outcome of this fire includes encouraging the growth of native plants, increasing species diversity in the understory, and the restoration of wildlife habitat. 

When ignitions begin, a 3-mile section of the Arizona Trail south of Grandview Tower will be temporarily rerouted along Forest Road 310.

Smoke may be visible from various forest roads in and around the vicinity, as well as along State Route 64/East Rim Drive within Grand Canyon National Park.

Managing naturally caused wildfires across the landscape is a very effective tool in restoring the forest to a healthier condition, and these efforts align with the Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to increase the use of fire on the landscape as well as other treatments to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.

Additional information can be found on the Kaibab NF website, X, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the local ranger stations.