Single Publication

Quartz Ridge Fire          

August 21, 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: 1,507 acres

Containment: 0%

Completion: 53%           

Personnel: 145

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.

Smoke from the Quartz Ridge Fire was visible in Pagosa Springs and surrounding areas yesterday. This was prompted, as expected, by the hotter, drier weather. Limited fire growth occurred on the fire's southeast corner and on the east side of Quartz Creek. Today, firefighters will assess options for limiting further growth in those areas.  

A Multi-Mission Aircraft flight was flown Sunday. Results from the flight showed most of the heat remains in the southeast corner of the Quartz Fire and within rocky terrain on the eastern side of Quartz Creek. The rocky terrain is limiting further growth.

The wildfire is burning in steep terrain in the South San Juan Wilderness.  A combination of indirect and direct control lines is being utilized to accomplish multiple objectives of full suppression on accessible parts of the fire and confinement on parts that are remote and/or present high safety risks to firefighters. Overall, 53% of these objectives have been completed.

YESTERDAY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Continued to evaluate terrain and potential areas for containment outside of wilderness boundaries and scouted for strategic areas for control.
• Pike hotshots hiked south toward the southeast corner with the intention of engaging the fire but drew back from the growing fire in the afternoon.
• Finished chipping the slash along the East Fork Road.
• Completed the containment of the hot spots on the northeast side of the fire.

TODAY’S PLAN:

• Assess the burned area on the east side of Quartz Creek for control features and strategies.
• Continue structure prep along East Fork Road at the Silver Guard Station.

WEATHER:

Today’s weather will have slightly higher humidity in the morning and a 30% of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. The temperatures will be in the high 70’s with 20 mph winds and gusts associated with the storms.

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

Facebook : https://tinyurl.com/y87cycm4

Email :  2023.quartzridge@firenet.gov       

Information Line : 970-426-5370