Single Publication

QUARTZ RIDGE 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.  

Quartz Ridge Fire: 2,792 acres, increase of 177 acreages | 77% of objectives achieved | 68 personnel assigned 

The Quartz Ridge Fire saw an increase in size of 177 acres. Although there was some growth yesterday, there is no anticipation of large growth for the rest of the week as weather is coming in. Crews finished structure protection operations yesterday and are securing a camera system to implement on the top of Wolf Creek Pass for long-term monitoring.  

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. Roads and trails within the Quartz Fire area are Quartz Meadows Rd (NFSR#684), Quartz Ridge Trail (NFST#570), Quartz Creek Trail (NFST#571).