Single Publication

Bear Creek Fire              

August 21, 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.

As expected during Sunday’s warmer and drier weather, smoke from Bear Creek Fire increased in the afternoon. The smoke was coming mainly from interior burning inside the fire perimeter. The fire did not show any significant growth, and no structures or other values were threatened by this increased fire behavior.

A Multi-Mission Aircraft flight to identify hot spots throughout the Bear Creek Fire was completed Sunday evening. Even with hot, dry weather the fire remained within the existing footprint.

Bear Creek Wildfire: Indirect control lines are being utilized to accomplish multiple objectives of full suppression in accessible parts of the fire and confinement in areas that are remote and/or present high safety risks to firefighters. Overall, 68% 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. This will be the last update on Mosca Fire unless conditions change.

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.
• Completed structure protection fuels mitigation in the Weminuche Valley.
• Firefighters remained alert for any changes in fire behavior.

TODAY’S PLAN:

• Continue fuels mitigation along the Mosca Road corridor with masticators.
• Continue structure protection with engine patrols.
• Assess any changes in fire behavior.

WEATHER:

Today’s weather will have slightly higher humidities in the morning and a 30% of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. The temperatures will be in the high 70’s with 20 mph winds and gusts associated with the storms.

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

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/mr2tpj69

Email :  2023.bearcreek@firenet.gov       

Information Line : 970-426-5370