Single Publication

Fire start date:   May 14, 2024
Fire size today:  4,962 acres
Location:  11 miles Northeast of Dolores, CO on Haycamp Mesa 

Personnel:  179      
Cause:  Lightning

Evacuation Information:
There are no current evacuations.

Fire Area and Roads Closure:
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cosjf-2024-spruce-creek-co

Latest Smoke Outlook:
https://fire.airnow.gov/?aqi_v=2&m_ids=&pa_ids=%23

INCIDENT OBJECTIVES:
•    Provide for firefighter and public safety throughout all phases of the incident
•    Manage hazards to responders and the public using a risk-based approach to decision-making on a continual basis
•    Protect critical values at risk
•    Reduce the long-term risk to communities from future wildfire events

YESTERDAY’S OPERATIONS:
•    Firefighters continued securing the western and eastern indirect fire boundaries (Forest Roads 556 and 557) using unmanned aerial systems (drones) and drip torches.  
•    Conditions were favorable for burnout operations to remove unburned fuel such as pine needles, gambel oak and dead and downed trees within pre-identified containment features. 

TODAY’S PLAN:

•    Fire managers plan to use one aerial ignition team and ground crews to secure the remaining previously defined indirect boundaries along natural features and existing roads. These indirect tactics have been determined to be the best approach to both containing the fire and reducing long-term fire risk to area communities.
•    Once burnout operations are complete on the fire, crews will continue securing and improving fireline.
•    Smoke will likely be very visible throughout the area, and may settle into valleys and other low-lying areas, especially at night and in the early morning hours. Wildfire smoke may affect your health. For more information, please go to:  https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health 

WEATHER:
•    Thursday will have similar temperatures and relative humidity as Wednesday. A frontal passage is expected toward late evening, resulting in slightly higher afternoon winds. Cloud cover will increase in the afternoon.