Related ArticlesĬolorado wildfires: Forecast dry weather could complicate efforts to quash Spring Creek, Chris Mountain, Coal Mine, Arkansas Loop firesįirefighters planned to scout the fire Thursday and figure out how “to safely and effectively contain the fire,” authorities wrote in one update.Īircraft – including a helicopter hauling water and airtanker loaded with fire retardant – were dispatched to the area Thursday afternoon, focusing on the east flank of the fire to keep it out of the drainage area, San Juan National Forest officials stated. Local authorities ordered evacuations in the area. Ground crews were working to suppress the blaze after aircraft were diverted to other fires.Ībout 12 miles west of Pagosa Springs, the Chris Mountain fire was burning on about 200 acres of national forest land, devouring Ponderosa pine and other trees, according to the latest information posted on a federal fire data website. “High winds have limited some fixed-wing use.”Ĭrews are prioritizing direct attacks – suppressing the fire by working as close to the edge of the fire line as possible – but preparing for indirect action as well to control the fire if it continues to spread, said Deon Steinle, planning operations section chief with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management team in a Thursday operational update.įirefighters in southwestern Colorado on Thursday were facing the Coal Mine fire in Archuleta County.Īs of Thursday evening, the fire had burned across 267acres, according to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office. “Air operations have been extremely helpful to keep the fire line in check and will be continued to be used where necessary,” Coulter said. How the fire ignited hasn’t been determined. No injuries have been reported on this fire, which broke out June 24 on private land in Garfield County southwest of Parachute and spread eastward into the White River National Forest. A highly toxic and flammable gas, hydrogen sulfide, that potentially could be released “has caused us to have portable monitors for crews within proximity.” “Most of the oil and gas infrastructure has good cleared space,” he said. In southwestern Colorado, two fires were burning on the San Juan National Forest near Pagosa Springs in Archuleta County, and another was burning on Southern Ute land.įirefighters on the Spring Creek fire were relying on aircraft – helicopters lugging water and tankers loaded with fire retardant red slurry – in their efforts to contain and suppress flames, BLM spokesman Eric Coulter said in an emailed response to queries. It was one of at least four fires burning around Colorado as hot, dry, and windy conditions favored flames. The most recent mapping of the fire showed that it is burning within a 2,985-acre area (4.7 square miles), based on overnight aerial infrared imagery, the federal Bureau of Land Management officials said Thursday morning. The Spring Creek fire burning in western Colorado south of Parachute expanded overnight and firefighters carried hydrogen sulfide gas detectors as flames spread close to oil and gas facilities, federal authorities said Thursday morning. Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close Menu
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |