Single Publication

Lowline Fire Update

Tuesday, August 8, 2023 – 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Phone: 970-648-4470 (public), 970-765-7123 (media)

Email: 2023.lowline@firenet.gov

Information Staffing Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Special Notes: Today will be the last shift of the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Dan Dallas. Command of the Lowline Fire will be transferred to a Type 3 Incident Management Team led by Incident Commander Bryan Gaines at 6:00 am Wednesday. Personnel from the Type 3 Team are on-site shadowing their counterparts on the Rocky Mountain Team to implement a smooth transition. 

Current Situation: Yesterday, no perimeter growth occurred and firelines resisted fire growth. Firefighters were prepared for severe fire behavior due to Red Flag conditions. Helicopter water drops were conducted to cool interior fire intensity and reduce spotting over firelines. Pre-staged crews were also moved to augment capacity in Division A/Z.   

Today will be the third day of Red Flag conditions, further demonstrating line strength. Planned actions remain the same as yesterday with firefighters located on the perimeter with good visibility and position to respond to fire movement. As fire behavior intensifies firefighters may utilize the helicopter to drop water, reposition resources, and implement other elements of pre-established plans as needed.    

Division A/Z: Intense fire behavior was observed as the fire further consumed fuels in the interior islands. Several water drops by a helicopter were necessitated throughout the day to reduce fire intensity and lessen potential for embers to travel outside containment lines. One small spot fire occurred, and firefighters extinguished it rapidly. Firefighting capacity was bolstered with crews from other divisions helping to patrol for fire activity. Today’s plan is the same as yesterday’s as heightened fire activity is expected again.  

Division Y: As firefighters observed increasing fire activity between the direct and indirect firelines, helicopters helped to cool the fire by dropping water. No additional actions were needed, and several crews were relocated to provide additional support in Division A/Z. The same approach is planned for today.   

Division X: Fire managers have implemented a confinement strategy in the division. Natural barriers and topographic features will support keeping the perimeter confined to an acceptable footprint. No significant growth occurred yesterday.

Division W: Firefighters patrolled for fire activity as it burned through fuels near the northern edge and backed into Middle Creek. Several crews were relocated to Division A/Z providing extra assistance. Tactics remain unchanged today.

Structure Protection: Structure protection crews remained observant and in close proximity to structures near the east side of the fire and will take the same actions again today.       

Weather & Fuel Conditions:

After two days of windy conditions, warm temperatures, humidity in the teens, and poor nighttime recovery, fire activity on the interior will be very active again and look similar to yesterday. Under the Red Flag Warning over the fire area, temperatures will be in the upper 70s with humidity in the 15% range and wind gusts up to 35 mph.   

Evacuations, Closures, and Fire Restrictions:

A pre-evacuation order is in effect for CR 727, Mill Creek. No other evacuations or pre-evacuations are in place near the fire.  For evacuation information, see Gunnison County Emergency Management at www.gunnisoncounty.org. You may sign up to receive emergency alerts on your phones or other devices at: https://bit.ly/3QhZVZg .

National Forest area, road, and trail closure: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1126172.pdf . BLM temporary closure: https://tinyurl.com/5n8s7xee .

County Roads in the fire vicinity are barricaded. In the interest of public safety, fire officials ask visitors to be aware of fire traffic and avoid the area.

Fire restrictions in Gunnison County: none currently.

Smoke Outlook reports: https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/ed63b240 .

Lowline Fire Statistics:

Size: 1830 acres          

Containment: 55%

Total Personnel: 220     

Cause: lightning

Location: 14 mi. NNW of Gunnison, CO

Reported: 8:00 am July 26, 2023

For More Information:

Information Phone: 970-648-4470 (public), 970-765-7123 (media)

Email: 2023.lowline@firenet.gov

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cogmf-lowline-fire

Facebook: www.facebook.com/GMUGFireInfo

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