Alexander Fire Daily Update for Aug. 1, 2024 by Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1

Acres: 8,134 

Start Date: 07/29/24 

Location: Larimer County, Colorado 

Personnel: 327 

Containment: 5%          

Highlights: At 6 a.m. today, August 1, 2024, Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 took command of the fire. Crews focused today on point specific protection and made good progress protecting high priority areas around the Alexander fire. The public is asked to avoid the area and abide by any posted signage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fire Activity: Fire activity occurred primarily on the interior northern portion of the fire today, which did cause a noticeable smoke plume in the afternoon. Fire also did back down towards Highway 34 today, and it did not cross the 34 corridor. 

Weather: Above-normal temperatures, around 10 degrees above average, will continue through Monday as a high-pressure system remains over the Rocky Mountains. Daytime heating will result in increasing cloud cover starting tomorrow, August 2, with small chances of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures will remain in the 90s.

Closures, Evacuations and Structure Assessment: The Larimer County Joint Information Center is providing information about evacuation notices, animal evacuations and road closures. For evacuation information visit nocoalert.org or text LCEVAC to 888777. The Joint Information Center can be reached at 
970-980-2500. If you believe your property may be impacted by the Alexander Mountain Fire, please call the Damage Assessment Center at 970-980-2800 to provide current contact information to the Office of Emergency Management.

Please note: The Forest Service increased the area closure. Refer to the new forest order and map.

Fire Cause: The cause of the Alexander Mountain Fire is under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the cause and origin of the Alexander Mountain fire is asked to call the Forest Service Law Enforcement Tip Line at 303-275-5266. Photographs and videos can be submitted via https://fs.us.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/amountainfire.

More Information:

Email: receive email updates on this fire, join our email list and select Forest Health & Fire: North of Hwy 34 to Hwy 14 (Buckhorn Canyon, Glen Haven, Cedar Park).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexanderMountainFire

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/coarf-alexander-mtn-fire  

Recursos extinguieron focos de calor que se encontraron durante la noche en el incendio Courtrock

MONUMENT, Oregon, EE.UU. (AP) — Los bomberos que trabajaron en el incendio Courtrock por la noche vieron un aumento en la actividad del fuego, debido mayormente al aumento de las temperaturas durante el día y la vegetación seca. Se localizaron dos pequeños focos de calor fuera de las líneas, uno al suroeste que se limitó a medio acre, y otro al noreste que se limitó a tres acres. Estos focos son indicadores de que el fuego se desplace en el futuro, ya que las temperaturas llegarán casi a los 100 grados hoy, y la posibilidad de viento y tormentas eléctricas mañana, que durarán el fin de semana.

Spot fires found overnight on Courtrock Fire, extinguished by resources

MONUMENT, Ore. – Firefighters working on the Courtrock Fire overnight saw increased fire activity, largely due to temperatures heating up during the day and drying out vegetation. Two small spot fires were located outside of the lines, one to the southwest that was caught at a half-acre, and another to the northeast that was caught at three acres. These spots are indicators of potential fire behavior moving forward with temperatures reaching near the 100s today, and the potential for wind and thunderstorms tomorrow, extending through the weekend.

ROAD CLOSURE

25 Mesa road is now closed due to emergency operations on the Bucktail Fire. The closure extends from the 25Mesa/Divide Road intersection to where the pavement starts on 25 Mesa outside of Nucla.

Please avoid the area and do not fly drones.

-Montrose County Sheriff's Office

See attached map for details.

KERNVILLE, CA, August 1, 2024 – The U.S. Forest Service and California Interagency Incident Management Team 11, in unified command with Kern County Fire Department and Kern County Sheriffs Department, is pleased to announce the reduction of selected evacuation orders previously imposed due to the Borel Fire.  

Be advised, the Borel Fire is not fully contained, only the zones listed below will be reduced. All other evacuation orders and warnings are still in effect. Please be aware that firefighting activities will continue for several more days or weeks. If any other areas become threatened, additional warnings and instructions will be issued. 

Zone 735:  Genasys Zone KRN-735 has been split North and South at Ball Mountain. The southern portion, now KRN-735-B, will remain in an Evacuation ORDER. The northern portion, now KRN-735-A, has been downgraded to an evacuation WARNING. Those that remain under an evacuation warning should stay PREPARED to leave. The situation can change quickly, and visibility in the area may be reduced and roads can become blocked.  

Zone 750:  The southern portion, KRN-750-A, will remain in Evacuation Warning status. Those that remain under an evacuation warning should stay PREPARED to leave. The situation can change quickly, and visibility in the area may be reduced and roads can become blocked. The evacuation warning status of the northern portion, KRN-750-B, has been restored to a normal status. There are no further advisories for Zone KRN-750-B. 

Zone 748:  Zone KRN-748 has been downgraded to an Evacuation Warning status. Residents returning to the area should remain PREPARED to leave. The situation can change quickly, and visibility in the area may be reduced and roads can become blocked. 

Zone 734:  The evacuation order for Zone KRN-734 has been lifted. There are no further advisories for this zone. 

Zones 752, 729, 730, 731, 732, 733 and 749:  Zones KRN-752, 729, 730, 731, 732, 733 and 749 have all been restored to a normal status. There are no further advisories in place for these zones. 

Red Fire

Community Meeting

Sunday, July 28, 2024 6:00 PM

Central Cascades Fire & EMS 
Community Service Center

20400 Crescent Lake Hwy
Crescent Lake, OR 97733

Meeting streamed on facebook: 2024 Red Fire Information

While air tankers and helicopters offer a measure of excitement, it just takes a lot of hard, hot, dirty work by firefighters on the ground to construct fireline and suppress a fire.

That goes for a fire of any size, including the Black Mountain Fire northwest of Lincoln, Mont., now reported as 76 acres. 

Getting equipment and people ordered, on site, and deployed in the field is a job in itself.  Take something as simple as water for example. You might have to truck in water. If you’re lucky, you might find a river or creek nearby where you can place a portable pump. Then you string out some hose to a portable tank erected on site.  Once you have a full tank, you’re ready to roll out even more hose to get water to the fireline where it will be used to take the heat out of the fire. 

It takes a group of experienced people to make this all happen. A Northern Rockies Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered in to take over the Black Mountain Fire. That will move the suppression efforts forward, while giving some local staff members a break so they can regroup and get ready to respond should a new fire be discovered in the area.

As a reminder, a forest closure is in place in order to facilitate firefighting efforts and keep the public out of harm’s way. Area residents and visitors also should be aware of emergency vehicle traffic on area roads and highways.

Even with the pending change in the people managing the fire, information will continue to be updated as needed on the Helena-Lewis and Clark Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HLCNF and on InciWeb at 
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mthlf-black-mountain

Update for Swawilla and Bridge Creek Fires

• EVACUATIONS:  Please see the map for UPDATED (8/1/24) evacuation areas. An evacuation center located at the Republic Fairgrounds is still accepting evacuees. For questions on evacuations contact the Colville Confederated Tribes EOC– (509) 634-7350.

• Closed/Open Roads (see Quick Facts charts for specifics):

  • Bridge Creek Road is open.

  • Peter Dan Road/Manilla Creek Road and Buffalo Lake Road are open to local resident traffic only. 

  • Keno Mine Road is closed

  • SanPoil Road is closed

  • 30 Mile Road is closed

  • All roads within the fire area are closed, except those that are listed as open to local resident traffic only.

Fire managers thank you for your patience as evacuations and the firefighting operations are going into two weeks. Your cooperation not only protects your life but ensures the safety of firefighters and increased efficiency of suppression tactics. 

Swawilla Fire

The strategic burning operation was very productive yesterday and will continue as planned this morning. According to fire mangers, all is going great. Fire engines patrolled and mopped up hot spots along Hwy 21 and will continue securing private property and residences through today’s shift. 

Bridge Creek Wildfire

A few areas of heat continue to linger in the northeast portion of the Bridge Creek Fire, and firefighters are concentrating efforts to cool down and extinguish those portions of the fire. Managers were pleased with operations yesterday and will continue reassigning resources from Bridge Creek to Swawilla to help with suppression efforts.  

Fire Weather 

The change in temperature will bring about a warmer, drier terrain, creating a higher rate of spread at lower elevations. The cooler days will end today bringing a hot air mass with drier conditions and light winds from the southwest.  There is a 20% chance of thunderstorms and higher temperatures through the weekend.  

Safety Message

Smoke will remain in the area over the next few days due to the controlled burning operation, impacting driving visibility. Visit Airnow.gov for air quality in your area and take precautions for protecting your health. 

Please slow down when driving all roads leading to and from the fires. There is a considerable amount of firefighting traffic and slow-moving equipment along roads and poor visibility. 

Boaters should avoid emergency firefighting aircraft using any waterbodies to acquire water to suppress fires. 

No drones are allowed within our Temporary Flight Restrictions. 

Remember, if you fly, we can’t! 

Additional Information and Maps at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/, Keller Ferry, https://www.facebook.com/CCTENV, https://www.facebook.com/CCTBroadcasts; Airnow.gov