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Quartz Ridge and Bear Creek Fires Daily Update, August 30, 2023
Bear Creek Fire
Publication Type: News 08/31/2023
August 30, 2023 Type 3 Team, Incident Commander: Nick Collard ICT3, Grif Cochran ICT3 (T)
Daily Update – 9:00 AM
Highlights: The Mosca (Piedra) Road (NFSR#631) reopened on Wednesday, August 30th. Additional road and trail closures remain in effect. Fire activity is expected to be minimal with smoldering, creeping, and backing where pockets of heat remain. Resources are available to respond quickly if conditions change.
Quartz Ridge Fire: 1,840 acres, increase of 7 acres | 76% of objectives achieved | 61 personnel assigned
Infrared mapping from aircraft showed scattered heat on the south side of the fire on the east side of Quartz Creek near the trail. 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 | 82% of objectives achieved | 15 personnel assigned
Infrared mapping from aircraft showed isolated points of heat along the ridge between Bear Creek and Shaw Creek. Minimal fire behavior is expected, but more active fire behavior may produce smoke in interior areas of the fire as conditions continue to dry out. Fire spread is not expected as fuel moistures remain elevated.
Weather: Not much change to the forecast except a subtle increase in atmospheric moisture as the high pressure ridge begins to shift to the east ushering in moisture out of the southwest. There will be a better chance for isolated to scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon with gusty winds, lightning, and brief periods of heavy rain.
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 Trail (NFST #591), and Shaw Creek Trail (NFST#584).
Restrictions: Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place today for the San Juan National Forest. This restriction will be lifted starting tomorrow (Thursday). 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
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
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095241777192