Coal Gulch Fire - Evening Update 7/25

Coal Gulch Fire – Update
7/25/16 – 19:00

• 90 percent containment
• Fire continues to stay within fire line
• Hand crews from USFS Idaho Pan-Handle Crew along with DFPD continued work on containment lines and extinguishment today
• Fire size 5.8 acres
• Next update will be after crews have obtained full containment, unless events occur with fire behavior that change expected goals for Tuesday.

Incident Background

Durango Fire was dispatched to a smoke report in the Perins Peak State Wildlife Area on Saturday, July 23.  Crews found a ½ acre fire, assumed to be a lightning strike hold over from last week’s storms.  Fire continued to grow during initial stages, up to 5.8 acres.  7 DFPD personnel worked the fire with 2 SEAT drops, and 22 bucket drops of water from a Type 2 helicopter.  Fire was 5% contained as of 23:00hrs Saturday night. 

 

Sunday (7/24), a 10-person hand crew from Idaho Panhandle (USFS), 6-10 people from Columbine Crew (Bayfield, CO), the Type 2 helicopter with 19 drops, a Skidgine (Soft-Track firefighting engine that carries 1000 gallons of water and has a blade on the front), 4 DFPD personnel are deployed to the fire.  The Objective for the day was safety, keep fire south of drainage out of heavy timber, flank and hold road as main control line.

 

Monday (7/25) DFPD crew along with 10-person hand crew from Idaho Panhandle (USFS) continued with strengthening fire lines and extinguishment.  Fire is staying within containment lines. Crews are off the fire for the night at 1900.  DFPD Crews will continue on Tuesday with full containment as a goal.

 

 

Fire is being managed by Durango Fire Rescue

- Incident Commander Scott Nielsen with DFR

 

Two Rock Fall Mitigation Projects Set for SW Colorado

SW COLORADO - The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will be working on two rock fall maintenance projects in Archuleta and La Plata Counties over the next two weeks.

ROCK FALL AREA 1:

Beginning Monday, July 25 and continuing through the end of the week, crews will be working on US Highway 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs. The specific area is located in Archuleta County just east of Yellow Jacket Pass (MP 116). On the north side of the road, large rocks and debris have come loose and lodged underneath the barrier netting that was originally placed on the hillside. Crews will use a crane to lift and shake the netting to release the rocks and boulders. The netting will be replaced as well as new netting installed.

CDOT engineer Kevin Curry said, “The cable netting has done its job. The barrier has prevented rocks from coming down onto the roadway. But we now need to do a little maintenance and clean out debris from underneath the netting.”  

TRAVEL IMPACTS: US 160 is a three-lane road at this location, therefore crews will be able to work in the far outside lane closest to the hillside. Two-lane traffic will be maintained, however occasional stops and delays may be necessary when heavy equipment is being moved. Motorists are urged to use caution and watch for maintenance crews and signage.

ROCK FALL AREA 2:

Crews will work the following week for two days, Aug 1 and 2, at an area in La Plata County, just south of Durango on Colorado Highway (CO) 3. The shale cliff on the east side of CO 3 also was previously mitigated with the use of netting. Large boulders have fallen and are trapped on top of the steel posts which hold up the netting. A crane will be used to open up the netting and attempt to allow the boulders to fall.     

TRAVEL IMPACTS: Traffic on CO 3 will encounter some temporary closures periodically over the course of the two day project. Electronic signs will advise motorists of traffic stops and delays.  Motorists may want to consider alternate routes and are urged to use caution and watch for maintenance crews and signage.

Stay Informed: To sign up to receive project information and/or lane closure updates on state highways in the area of your choice, visit CDOT’s website at www.codot.gov and choose the envelope icon at the bottom of the page. Or, to see CDOT’s lane closure reports for projects statewide, visit www.codot.gov/travel/scheduled-lane-closures.html. 

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Coal Gulch Fire - Morning Update

Coal Gulch Fire - Update
7/25/16 – 09:00

• 75 percent containment
• Fire continues to stay within fire line
• Hand crews from USFS Idaho Pan-Handle Crew along with DFPD will continue work on containment lines, Monday 7/25
• Fire size 5.8 acres

Incident Background

Durango Fire was dispatched to a smoke report in the Perins Peak State Wildlife Area on Saturday, July 23.  Crews found a ½ acre fire, assumed to be a lightning strike hold over from last week’s storms.  Fire continued to grow during initial stages, up to 5.8 acres.  7 DFPD personnel worked the fire with 2 SEAT drops, and 22 bucket drops of water from a Type 2 helicopter.  Fire was 5% contained as of 23:00hrs Saturday night. 

 

Sunday (7/24), a 10-person hand crew from Idaho Panhandle (USFS), 6-10 people from Columbine Crew (Bayfield, CO), the Type 2 helicopter with 19 drops, a Skidgine (Soft-Track firefighting engine that carries 1000 gallons of water and has a blade on the front), 4 DFPD personnel are deployed to the fire.  The Objective for the day was safety, keep fire south of drainage out of heavy timber, flank and hold road as main control line.

 

Fire is being managed by Durango Fire Rescue

- Incident Commander Scott Nielsen with DFR

Coal Gulch Fire - evening update

Coal Gulch Fire - Update
7/24/16 - 1800

• 75 percent containment
• No spot fires occurred outside of fire line today
• Crews and Helicopter will be released at 18:30 for the night
• Hand crews from USFS Idaho PanHandle Crew along with DFPD will continue work on containment lines, Monday 7/25

         

Meeting at 11:00hrs on 7/24/16 with State of Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, LPC Sheriff, LPC OEM, ChiefsDoughty and Black from DFPD to discuss cost sharing:  Fire is on State lands, which falls to the Sheriff to manage (County responsibility per the State Law and negotiated Annual Operating Plan).  State has agreed to cover aircraft expenses from 7/23/16, and is working on covering the Type 2 for 7/24/16.  A 9 person USFS crew from Idaho Panhandle are working the fire 7/24/16 and planning on using them 7/25/16.  The State will cover their cost.  DFPD resources are on scene, and are covered by DFPD.  A Skidgine is on scene, will be covered by the County.  A 5 person crew from Columbine is on scene, but available for other responses.  DFPD will maintain Command of the fire, with assistance from LPC Sheriff, OEM, State DFPC, and other local and federal resources.

Coal Gulch Fire - Saturday (7/24) UPDATE

Coal Gulch Fire

Update 7/24

Fire is being managed by Durango Fire Rescue

Yesterday (7/23) around 16:00 hours, Durango Fire was dispatched to a smoke report in the Perins Peak State Wildlife Area.  Crews found a ½ acre fire, assumed to be a lightning strike hold over from last week’s storms.  Fire continued to grow during initial stages, and is now 5.8 acres as of 21:00hrs yesterday.  7 DFPD personnel worked the fire with 2 SEAT drops, and 22 bucket drops of water from a Type 2 helicopter.  Fire was 5% contained as of 23:00hrs yesterday. 

Today (7/24), a 10 person hand crew from Idaho Panhandle (USFS), 6-10 people from Columbine Crew (Bayfield, CO), the Type 2 helicopter, a Skidgine (Track drive firefighting engine that carries 1000 gallons of water and has a blade on the front), 4 DFPD personnel and a small overhead team are deployed to the fire.  The Objective for the day is Safety, keep fire south of drainage out of heavy timber, flank and hold road as main control line.

Fire is being managed by Durango Fire Rescue

- Incident Commander Scott Nielsen with DFR

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Black Ridge Fire - Maps

Black Ridge Fire, Durango, CO

Update as of 1630 hours, July 14, 2016:

Fire is currently 78 acres with retardant on 80% of perimeter - the remaining 20% is predominantly burn scar and does not need retardant.  The fire is currently 20% contained with dozer and hand-lines.

Initial plan for 7/14/16 is to direct air support, hand and dozer crews to SW line of the fire perimeter.

There are currently 50 personnel working the fire with and additional Type 2 crew arriving this morning which will bring to total to 70.

There are currently no structures threatened; oil and gas resources are also protected at this point.  Oil and gas crews will have limited access today.

Residents in the area will CONTINUE to be on PRE-EVACUATION notice for today until otherwise notified.