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  • wildfire Wildfire
  • prescribed fire Prescribed Fire
  • burned area emergency response Burned Area Response
  • other type Other

2024 Spruce Creek CO

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Unit Information

San Juan National Forest 
15 Burnett Court 
Durango, 
Colorado 
81301 
San Juan National Forest 
15 Burnett Court 
Durango, 
Colorado 
81301 

Incident Contacts

  • Mike DeFries
    Email:
    2024.sprucecreek@firenet.gov
    Phone:
    (970) 501-5102
    Hours:
    7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Photographs Gallery

Keeping the fire "square"
A firefighter with a pack and a fire tool on his back and a red drip torch in his gloved hand is shown moving into an aspen thicket with smoke beyond.
A firefighter with a pack and a fire tool on his back and a red drip torch in his gloved hand is shown moving into an aspen thicket with smoke beyond.
Keeping the fire "square"

A member of the Cherokee Interagency Hotshot Crew is shown moving into the forest along FSR 556 (Haycamp Mesa) on May 17. Firefighters use drip torches to help keep the fire burning evenly along the perimeter, in this case the road. Doing so helps prevent large pockets of fuel from igniting all once, which could send embers over the road and also pose a safety threat to fire personnel in the area.

Morning Meeting
Firefighters stand in a circle on a grassy area with clouds and blue sky above.
Firefighters stand in a circle on a grassy area with clouds and blue sky above.
Morning Meeting

Fire managers meet to discuss plans for the day on Saturday, May 18th, outside the Dolores Public Lands Office. Photo by Public Information Officer Andy Lyon.

Smoke Ahead
A pink roadside warning of reduced visibility due to smoke is shown along a forest road with smoke and firefighters in the distance.
A pink roadside warning of reduced visibility due to smoke is shown along a forest road with smoke and firefighters in the distance.
Smoke Ahead

Travelers on Haycamp Mesa Road (FSR 556) may encounter reduced visibility due to smoke from the Spruce Creek Fire. The road is open but please use caution as firefighters will be working along the road.

Brushing Along the Road
A member of the Cherokee Interagency Hotshot Crew cuts brush along the Haycamp Mesa Road (FSR 556).
A member of the Cherokee Interagency Hotshot Crew cuts brush along the Haycamp Mesa Road (FSR 556).
Brushing Along the Road

A member of the Cherokee Interagency Hotshot Crew cuts brush along the Haycamp Mesa Road (FSR 556).

Along the 556
A firefighter stands on a road near the Spruce Creek Fire on the San Juan National Forest.
A firefighter stands on a road near the Spruce Creek Fire on the San Juan National Forest.
Along the 556

A member of the Cherokee Interagency Hotshot Crew observes fire activity along Forest System Road 556. 

Squaring up the edge
A firefighter with a lit drip torch stands among many small Aspen trees with smoke beyond.
A firefighter with a lit drip torch stands among many small Aspen trees with smoke beyond.
Squaring up the edge

Fire is beneficial to Aspen trees, as well as Ponderosa. It thins thick stands of shoots like this one and allows the remaining trees to flourish because of less competition for water and nutrients.

Base Canopy Height
Smoke rises from a fire in the San Juan National Forest. A firefighter is seen near a large Ponderosa Pine tree that is uneffected by the fire.
Smoke rises from a fire in the San Juan National Forest. A firefighter is seen near a large Ponderosa Pine tree that is uneffected by the fire.
Base Canopy Height

Low to moderate intensity fire helps protect Ponderosa Pine trees by "raising the base canopy height." The large tree in this photo shows why that's important. Without needles and branches near the ground it's much harder for a fire on the ground to climb into the canopy of the tree. Ponderosa's can survive charred bark but a fire in the canopy can be deadly.

Brushing2
A firefighter holding a chain saw is seen while two others clear away just-cut brush.
A firefighter holding a chain saw is seen while two others clear away just-cut brush.
Brushing2

A sawyer moves up the road while two of his colleagues clear away the brush that was just cut. By thinning vegetation along the road, the firefighters are improving the road's ability to act as a containment line. 

Framed by Aspen
Two aspen trees are in the foreground with a road in the middle and a smoky fire in the forest beyond.
Two aspen trees are in the foreground with a road in the middle and a smoky fire in the forest beyond.
Framed by Aspen

Despite the name, the Spruce Creek Fire is burning mostly in a forest of Aspen, Ponderosa Pine and Gambel Oak.

Fire Adapted Ponderosa
The charred trunks of two Ponderosa Pines are shown surrounded by white ash.
The charred trunks of two Ponderosa Pines are shown surrounded by white ash.
Fire Adapted Ponderosa

Ponderosa Pine are a fire-adapted species. Low-to-moderate intensity ground fire will char the trunks but not kill the tree and the charring will fade over time. And, by eliminating leaf litter and needles, the ground is cleared for new seeds - from these mature pines as well as other plants.

Climbing a dead Aspen
A close up photo of flames climbing up a dead aspen tree.
A close up photo of flames climbing up a dead aspen tree.
Climbing a dead Aspen

Fire climbs a dead Aspen tree. 

Fire Behavior May 16
A forest and grassy area is shown with small flames visible in the grass.
A forest and grassy area is shown with small flames visible in the grass.
Fire Behavior May 16

Fire activity remained low on the Spruce Creek Fire on 5-15, with some creeping and backing fire.

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