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Bear Creek Fire

Unit Information

15 Burnett Court 
Durango, 
81301 
15 Burnett Court 
Durango, 
81301 

Incident Contacts

  • Fire Information
    Phone:
    970–426–5370
    Hours:
    8 am - 5 pm

Bear Creek Daily Update 08/29/2023

Bear Creek Fire
Publication Type: News 08/30/2023

August 29, 2023 Type 3 Team, Incident Commander: Nick Collard ICT3 

Daily Update – 9:00 AM Grif Cochran ICT3 (T)  

Highlights:  The Mosca (Piedra) Road (NFS #631) has reopened with other closures remaining in effect. Fire activity is expected to be minimal with smoldering, creeping, and backing where pockets of heat remain. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected again this afternoon. Crews and air resources are available to respond quickly if conditions change.  

Quartz Ridge Fire: 1,833 acres, no change in acreage | 73% of objectives achieved | 71 personnel assigned 

Infrared images from the latest Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) showed some pockets of heat on the southeast portion of the fire and on the east side of Quartz Creek. Direct control lines are being utilized to suppress accessible parts of the fire and indirect control lines are providing confinement on remote areas that present high safety risks to firefighters.  

Bear Creek Fire: 443 acres, no change in acreage | 79% of objectives achieved | 13 personnel assigned 

A few pockets of heat remain on the Bear Creek fire on the ridge between Bear Creek and Shaw Creek with mainly minimal fire behavior. Some areas of more active fire behavior may produce smoke in interior areas of the fire as conditions continue to dry out. Fire spread is not expected since most hot spots are not located near the fire perimeter.  

Weather: Drier air continues to move in from the north but enough moisture will remain over the San Juans to allow a few showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. High temperatures will be in the mid 70s with afternoon minimum relative humidity of 20 to 35%. Gusty and erratic winds can be expected near thunderstorms.  

San Juan National Forest Temporary Area Closures:  Closure orders are in effect and additional information can be found here. Roads and trails within area closures are Quartz Meadows Rd (NFSR#684), Quartz Ridge Trail (NFST#570), Quartz Creek Trail (NFST#571), Little Sand Creek Trail (NFST #591), and Shaw Creek Trail (NFST #584). 

Restrictions: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place for the San Juan National Forest and additional information is available here

Fire Information 

Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Phone: 970-426-5370  

Quartz Ridge Fire 

Email: 2023.QuartzRidge@firenet.gov 

InciWeb: 

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/cosjf-quartz-ridge-fire 

Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095556640621 

Bear Creek Fire 

Email: 2023.BearCreek@firenet.gov 

Inciweb 

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/cosjf-bear-creek-fire 

Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095241777192