Single Publication

Bear Creek Fire              

August 20, 2023

Bear Creek Fire start date: 

August 1, 2023

Location:  23 miles Northwest of Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Cause:  Lightning

Incident Commander: Jay Kurth

Management Team: NIMO Team 1

Management:  Suppression

Fire size today: 415 acres

Containment:  0%

Completion: 67%     

Personnel:  43

Evacuation Information: Weminuche Valley is under pre-evacuation notice. Local residents should follow incident information and updates.

Closures:

• Cloman Park in Pagosa Springs
• https://tinyurl.com/trails-and-roads

Latest Smoke Outlook:

outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/933fc4e4 

INCIDENT OBJECTIVES:

• Firefighter and Public safety are the highest priority.
• Protect private lands within the Weminuche Creek drainage, natural resources, cultural and historic sites, recreation assets and critical infrastructure including powerlines and gas utility lines.

A Multi-Mission Aircraft flight to identify hot spots throughout the Bear Creek Fire was completed Saturday evening. Results showed minimal heat remaining partly due to the aspen within the fire’s footprint not carrying fire.

Bear Creek Wildfire: Indirect control lines are being utilized to accomplish multiple objectives of full supression in accessible parts of the fire and confinement in areas that are remote and/or present high safety risks to firefighters. Overall, 67% of these objectives have been completed.

Firefighters have been unable to directly engage the fire for safety and logistical reasons. Mastication of vegetation along the Mosca Road to develop indirect control lines continued.

Mosca Wildfire: This fire is 100% contained and in aerial patrol status.

YESTERDAY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Fire managers continued to use two masticators on the Mosca Road to the south of the fire to reduce fuels and to create an indirect contingency line, completing about 0.3 miles/day.
• Crews in the Weminuche Valley area implemented further structure protection measures.
• Firefighters remained alert for any changes in fire behavior.
• Scouted for potential indirect control opportunities to meet objectives.

TODAY’S PLAN:

• Continue fuels mitigation along the Mosca Road corridor with masticators.
• Operational supervisors will continue scouting indirect control opportunities to the south along the Mosca Road, with the intent of connecting them into the Weminuche Valley.
• Continue structure protection.
• Assess any changes in fire behavior.

WEATHER:

The drying trend will continue today with a 2% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures could reach into the low 80’s. Wind speed will increase due to the tropical system in California, with gusts up to 25 mph.

Incident Information: https://tinyurl.com/mrx4pp27

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/mr2tpj69

Email :  2023.bearcreek@firenet.gov       

Information Line : 970-426-5370