Single Publication

Lowline Fire Update

Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – 9:00 a.m.

Type 3 Incident Management

Bryan Gaines, 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 Note: Today at 6:00 a.m. the Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the Lowline Fire.  Incident Commander Bryan Gaines commended the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team for their quality work and smooth transition.

Current Situation: We had a successful transition from the Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team and the Type 3 Incident Management Team. Red Flag conditions persisted over the Lowline Fire area, which resulted in increased smoke. No perimeter growth occurred, however, fuels in unburned interior islands continued to be consumed, resulting in an approximately 50-acre increase. Objectives for fire suppression remain unchanged and firefighters will continue monitoring fire behavior, patrolling fire lines, working on the fire and addressing hot spots.

The outgoing Type 1 team finalized a structure protection plan to be utilized by the Type 3 team and local agencies. Additionally, conditions on the fireline allowed the Sheriff's Office to complete an investigation of one burned structure within the fire perimeter and determined that one uninhabited cabin was lost during extreme fire behavior at the onset of the Lowline Fire. The owners of this structure have been notified. All other known structures in close proximity to the Lowline Fire have been assessed and are being monitored by fire crews.

Weather & Fuel Conditions:

Winds will relax to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Humidity will rise to the low 20% range and temperatures will drop to be in the mid-70s. Smoky conditions are expected overnight, with the smoke breaking up around mid-morning as temperatures increase. Fire behavior will remain active due to poor overnight humidity recovery and low fuel moisture. A weak moisture surge will move into the area with a 10% chance of precipitation today and 35% chance on Thursday.

Evacuations, Closures, and Fire Restrictions:

A pre-evacuation order remains in effect for CR 727, Mill Creek. No other evacuations or pre-evacuations are in place near the fire.  For additional evacuation information, see Gunnison County Emergency Management at www.gunnisoncounty.org. You may sign up to receive emergency alerts 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: 1871 acres         

Containment: 55%

Total Personnel: 166     

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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