Single Publication

Titan Fire Update

Sunday, July 2, 2023 – 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Phone: 719-257-3621

Email: 2023.titan@firenet.gov

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

Special Notes: RMCIMT 1’s top priority is always firefighter and public safety. The first objective in the Incident Action Plan is to reduce the risk to incident personnel and the public through strategic risk management processes and subsequent risk analysis. The team is committed to minimizing impacts to private structures and homes, including the surrounding communities, powerline/oil/gas infrastructure, water treatment facilities, and natural and cultural resources, using a full suppression strategy. Firefighters are also managing suppression activities on private property to minimize disturbances and erosion, protect watersheds, and minimize damage to private property values. Fire officials will continue to provide timely and accurate information to Agency Administrators, the Las Animas County Sheriff, cooperators, stakeholders, the public and media, until the incident is transferred back to the local authorities on Sunday, July 2, at 6:00 p.m. This will be the last formal update from Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1. Please contact local authorities for your information needs beginning this evening.

Current Situation: All landowners can return to their properties as of June 30, at 3:00 p.m. Firefighters continue to make good progress towards containment and full suppression. Heavy equipment and hand crews are building and reinforcing fireline using mop-up and cold trailing techniques.

Mopping up describes the hard physical labor process of extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines down to the mineral soil, felling fire damaged trees, and cooling ash pits enhancing fireline. Mopping up reduces the likelihood of any remaining fire moving past firelines and reducing residual smoke. Hazardous stump holes may still be smoldering and putting out smoke, but on the interior of the fire perimeter, they pose no risk to the completed fireline.

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Mild weather conditions continue today over the fire area with high humidity, low windspeed and moderate temperatures. There is a chance of rain over the next several days, and some storms will have heavy rains that could result in wetting rains. Watch for the possibility of locally high winds due to nearby thunderstorm activity.

Safety & Preparedness Information: Residents are encouraged to register with the Las Animas County emergency notification system at lasanimascounty.colorado.gov/codered. Now is the time to make sure you, your family and your property are prepared for wildfire. Visit Ready, Set, GO! at wildlandfirersg.org and Firewise USA at firewise.org for more information. Three critical things you can do right now to plan and prepare are: 1) Check with your insurance agent to make sure you have enough insurance to rebuild your home if it is lost or damaged in a fire; 2) Do a home inventory list and document it with photos and video; 3) Have an evacuation kit, a family plan and a safe escape route in the event of wildfire evacuations. With the rains come very slick roads, so please be careful when driving.

There is still a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the Titan Fire. Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Titan Fire Statistics:

Size: 930 acres

Containment: 70%

Total Personnel: 220

Location: 11 miles northwest of Trinidad, CO

Reported: June 28, 2023

Cause: Under investigation

For More Information:

Information Phone: 719-257-3621

Email: 2023.titan@firenet.gov

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TitanFire2023

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