Single Publication

Quartz Ridge Fire          

August 18, 2023  

Fire start date:   August 5, 2023

Cause:  Lightning

Location:  13 miles Northeast of Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Incident Commander: Jay Kurth

Management Team: NIMO Team 1

Management:  Suppression

Fire size today: 1,475 acres

Containment: 0%         

Personnel: 131

Evacuation Information: There are no current evacuations. Local residents should follow incident information for updates.

Closures:

• Quartz Meadows Rd (NFSR#685)
• Quartz Ridge Trail (NFST#570)
• Quartz Creek Trail (NFST#571)
• https://tinyurl.com/roads-and-trails

Latest Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke. net/outlook/933fc4e4

INCIDENT OBJECTIVES:

• Firefighter and Public safety are the highest priority.
• Protect private lands within East Fork San Juan River drainage, natural resources, cultural and historic sites, recreation assets, and critical infrastructure including powerlines and gas utility lines.

The wildfire is burning in steep terrain in the South San Juan Wilderness.  Indirect suppression tactics are being utilized as the preferred and safest approach since significant (almost 90%) tree mortality exists, creating a high potential for burning snags and falling trees. 

A Multi-Mission Aircraft flight flown mid-morning Thursday indicated the majority of the western half of the fire was cool. Pockets of heat were found along the eastern edge of the fire and within the spot fires.  Fire behavior is predicted to be minimal today. As the weather becomes warmer and drier through the weekend, the remaining pockets of heat could create smoke and increase fire activity.

YESTERDAY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Continued to evaluate terrain and potential areas for containment outside of wilderness boundaries and scout for strategic areas for control.
•  Improved the condition of the East Fork Road to make more accessible for firefighters.
• Oriented the San Juan hotshots to the area, assessing opportunity to engage the fire’s edge directly along Quartz Creek.
• Continued to implement structure protection on private lands.

TODAY’S PLAN:

• Chipping of the slash along the East Fork Road with the Bighorn Type II crew.
• Construct fire line around the spot fires with the San Juan hotshots.
• Continue to build structure protection plans both logistically and operationally.
• Transport the Pike hotshots to the Quartz Ridge Fire

WEATHER:

Friday will be partly cloudy with 40% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures could reach into the low 80’s. Winds will be mild in the morning but transition to gusty near thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Incident Information : https://tinyurl.com/mr37bhnr

Facebook : https://tinyurl.com/y87cycm4

Email :  2023.quartzridge@firenet.gov       

Information Line : 970-426-5370