Single Publication

Quartz Ridge Fire          

August 15, 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: 111

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.

Cloudy weather and rainstorms prohibited a Multi-Mission Aircraft flight to obtain updated acreage for the Quartz Ridge wildfire.  Yesterday’s scattered thunderstorms and cloudy weather meant no increase in fire activity and firefighters did not smell or see any smoke from this wildfire. 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 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.   

YESTERDAY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Continued to evaluate terrain and potential areas for containment outside of wilderness boundaries and scout for strategic areas for control.

TODAY’S PLAN:

• Continue with suppression tactic reviews, with the objective of keeping the fire south of East Fork Trail.
• Continue to improve the contingency line on the East Fork Road to the north and east of the fire.
• A module of firefighters will watch for spots from lookout locations.
• Continue to build structure protection plans both logistically and operationally.
• Crews will begin to use mechanized equipment along Forest Service Roads 631 and 643 to improve proposed strategic control lines. A chipper will be ordered to assist with removed trees and fuel.

WEATHER: Warmer weather is forecasted for the next week. Monsoon moisture is predicted with decreasing chances of possible afternoon thundershowers as the week progresses.  

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

Facebook : https://tinyurl.com/y87cycm4

Email :  2023.quartzridge@firenet.gov       

Information Line : 970-426-5370