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Bear Creek Fire Update - September 18th
Bear Creek Fire
Publication Type: News 09/20/2023
BEAR CREEK FIRE
September 18, 2023
Type 3 Team, Incident Commander: Nathan Hallam
Daily Update – 9:00 AM
This update will occur every other day unless significant activity occurs.
Highlights: Smoke production from both fires may be visible. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures continue over the next few days. Drying and warmer weather will likely increase fire activity within the fire perimeter of both fires. With the return of clear skies and dry weather, fire activity is expected to increase slightly allowing for additional smoke production over both fires. Prescribed burning activity is in the area south of Hwy 160.
Bear Creek Fire: 1093 acres | 20 personnel assigned
Bear Creek Fire continues to warm and dry as sunny skies continue. Smoke may be visible in the Weminuche Valley, west of Weminuche and south of Falls Creek. The cooler temperatures at night in the Weminuche Valley have crews winterizing pumps and hose lay nightly. Crews have been verifying functionality and adequate coverage of structure protection water handling systems.
Weather: Fall weather continues with mostly clear skies. Daytime temperatures are expected to be in the low 60s while the overnight temperatures will fall below the low 40s; the highest elevations are approaching freezing. Light winds out of the west at 5 – 10mph with gusts up to 15mph will be present over the next few days. A change in the weather pattern is expected as early as Wednesday where winds will ramp up with potential gusts up to 30mph.
San Juan National Forest Temporary Closures: Closure orders are in effect and additional information can be found here: Quartz Ridge Closure and Bear Creek Closure. Roads and trails within the Quartz Fire area are Quartz Meadows Rd (NFSR#684), Quartz Ridge Trail (NFST#570), Quartz Creek Trail (NFST#571). The trails within the Bear Creek Fire area are Little Sand Trail (NFST #591) and Shaw Creek Trail (NFST#584).
Fire Information Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Phone: 970-426-5370