Single Publication

Quartz Ridge Fire           August 14, 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: 1,440 acres

Containment: 0%          

Personnel: 105

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

Closures: tinyurl.com/mpt9jeds

• Quartz Meadows Rd (NFSR#685)
• Quartz Ridge Trail (NFST#570)
• Quartz Creek Trail (NFST#571)

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 Quartz Fire continued to smolder with pockets of active torching, mostly on the southeast side. Yesterday’s wetting rains, cooler temperatures and higher humidity continue to slow the fire’s growth. The three spot fires on the northeast side of Quartz Creek are diminished and the fire’s east side is holding at Quartz Creek.  The fire is currently in an aspen grove on the north side and is not growing.  The wildfire is burning in steep terrain in the South San Juan Wilderness.  Indirect suppression tactics are the safest approach since significant (almost 90%) tree mortality exists which creates a potential for burning and falling trees.  These hazardous conditions also limit access to crews from engaging in the spot fires that are now established on the east side of  Quartz Creek.   Firefighters are focusing on developing containment and contingency plans in accessible areas.

YESTERDAY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Continued to evaluate terrain and potential areas for containment outside of wilderness boundaries.
• Firefighters hiked into Quartz Creek to evaluate fire behavior and scout for strategic areas for control.
• Communications specialists installed a new repeater for enhanced ground to air and air to air communications.

TODAY’S PLAN:

• Continue with suppression tactic reviews, with the objective of keeping the fire south of East Fork Trail. Identify additional values at risk toward Elwood Pass.
• Continue to scout viable control features and contingency lines, particularly on the East Fork Road to the north of the fire and to the east.
• Continue to build structure protection plans both logistically and operationally.
• Identify lookout locations to track fire progress.

• Implement a combination of indirect line and point protection of structures and gas pipeline at risk.

WEATHER: The weather trend includes increasing rain on Monday, gusty winds, and stable temperatures. Sunday afternoon the area received 2/10” of “wetting rain.” Later in the week, the probability of thunderstorms will decrease.

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

Facebook : https://tinyurl.com/y87cycm4

Email :  2023.quartzridge@firenet.gov       

Information Line : 970-426-5370