Single Publication

Location: Three miles northwest of Beulah, CO

Date Reported: June 22, 2024

Cause: Lightning

Size: 1,156 acres

Containment: 0

Total Personnel: 467

Most of the area north, west, and south of the fire is in country that is steep and rugged and increases the time it takes for firefighters to get to safety in the event of increased fire behavior or an accident. The next line of defense is constructing indirect fireline, incorporating natural features such as meadows and rocky areas as well as other existing containment features including trails and roads, that will box in the fire and provide opportunities to conduct burnout operations to reduce fuel loads with the highest probability of success. Records show there hasn’t been any fire inside and outside the current fire perimeter for over 100 years. This has allowed the area between the Junkens Fire burn scar to the north and the Mason Gulch Fire burn scar to the south to become overgrown and dense. If fuels aren’t reduced, it’s not a matter of if fire will occur, it’s a matter of when. Reducing the fuels will provide a higher rate of success of keeping wildland fire away from Beulah and other surrounding communities.

Current Situation

Firefighters worked on reinforcing existing fireline that follows along the curvature of the east fire perimeter in Division K and Division A by extinguishing hot spots along the fireline. This created a buffer between the fire and the town of Beulah. They will continue to monitor the fireline and mop up any hot spots. Firefighters are now positioned to transition from a direct or reactive approach to a proactive approach as they continue building indirect lines to box in the fire.

Fire Crews are working on indirect firelines south of Beulah in Division K tying into a two-track road on private land and building handline south to Soldier Park and Second Mace Trails. On the west side of the fire in Division U, heavy equipment began constructing fireline along a ridgeline off Silver Circle Trail. The objective is to box in the fire and utilize the lighter fuels in the Junkens Fire perimeter to contain the fire.

Structure protection crews will continue scouting to locate and assess structures east of the fire and along the Hwy 78 corridor and the Hwy 165 corridor west of the fire. 

Weather & Smoke Information: Morning temperatures will be cooler with light winds from the east and southeast. Isolated thunderstorms will develop over the fire around 3:00 p.m. bringing the potential for lightning, brief downpours, hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph.

The U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program is now producing a daily smoke outlook report specific to south central Colorado and the Oak Ridge Fire. You can read and download the outlook by going to https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/d9fa3c77. 

Closures: The Middle Creek Road is closed. The San Carlos Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests issued an area, trail and road closure effective June 26, 2024. Go to www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/psicc/alerts-notices to read and download the entire order.

Evacuations: Homes along the Middle Creek Canyon Road are under a mandatory evacuation. The following are in a pre-evacuation status: Vine Mesa, Cascade Ave., Pine Ave., and Beulah Highlands Rd. Go to www.puebloemergency.info for all evacuation information.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area. If you FLY, we CAN’T. Do not fly or operate your own drones in this area, as it will impede firefighting efforts and ground our aircraft.

OAK RIDGE FIRE INFORMATION

Fire Information Phoneline:  719-315-1536      Time: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Facebook: @OakRidgeFire2024     Email: 2024.oakridge@firenet.gov   

InciWeb: www.inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/copsf-oak-ridge-fire