Single Publication

BEAR CREEK FIRE

September 10, 2023                         

Type 3 Team, Incident Commander: Nate Hallam 

Daily Update – 9:00 AM  

Highlights:  Yesterday, the both fires had shown some growth and smoke production. There was haze earlier in the day brought in from both fires but also from the smoke concentrations from the southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains, impacting the Rio Grande Basin in Colorado and New Mexico. The Colorado Department of Health has issued an Air Quality Advisory for eastern Archuleta and southern Mineral and Hinsdale Counties through 9:00am today (9/10). Fire activity on both fires is expected to decrease as weather comes in this week.  

Bear Creek Fire: 1090 acres, increase of 207 acreages | 83% of objectives achieved | 61 personnel assigned 

The Bear Creek Fire saw an increase in size of 207 acres. Yesterday, there was no aerial recon on both fires due to the strong inversion and low visibility, although the San Juan Hotshots had arrived to the Fire and will begin surveilling the Weminuche Valley. The Fire is expected to be pushed to the south in the coming days, although not by much.  

Weather:  Yesterday was very dry, although weather had changed overnight with fair humidity recovery. Today, the area will be out of critical periods of dryness and will experience a cooler trend through the week. There will be higher humidity today, around 25%, as well as an increase in thunderstorms, although there is a low chance of wetting rains. There is evidence of possible virga, rain that evaporates before it hits the ground.  

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. The trails within the Bear Creek Fire area are Little Sand Trail (NFST #591) and Shaw Creek Trail (NFST#584).