Single Publication

Trail Springs and Mill Creek 2 Fires

Update: November 8, 2023

Type 4, Incident Commander Shane McCracken, 34 Personnel
 

The fire danger level is currently high, so it is important that forest users completely drown campfires to prevent unintended escape. Use the “drown, stir, feel” method to be sure it's dead out.

Trail Springs Fire | Size: 1303 Acres | Containment: 43% | Cause: Lightning

Command of both fires was transferred from the Type 3 team back to the Pagosa Ranger District. The firefighting strategy remains the same, which is to hold the fire to existing control features. Firefighters will continue to observe the fire closely and maintain the capacity to take any appropriate action, until it is no longer considered a risk. Yesterday, fire managers took a reconnaissance flight over the fires to investigate some areas of intense heat that showed up on infrared images taken the night before. They confirmed that the Trail Springs Fire has not crossed the West Fork of Devil Creek and remains within control features. Control features are any natural or constructed barriers to fire growth. These include handline and dozer line, shaded fuel breaks created along roads, sites of recent fires such as the Chris Mountain Fire scar, and bodies of water such as the West Fork of Devil Creek.

Mill Creek 2 Fire |Size: 146 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Human

This fire is located in rugged, remote terrain near the border of the South San Juan Wilderness Area northeast of Pagosa Springs. Over the past 48 hours, the fire has been more active than what has been observed for the past several weeks due to prolonged dry conditions and an increase in wind. During yesterday’s recon flight, fire personnel saw that the Mill Creek 2 Fire continues to not pose a threat to any identified values. Values can include human lives, private property, infrastructure, historic and archeological sites, watersheds, and any other natural resources or human developments that have measurable or intrinsic worth.

Weather: Breezy weather and low RH values are expected to continue for the next 24-36 hours before a cooling and moderately wetter period is forecast for the fire area. 

San Juan NF Temporary Closures: An area closure is in place involving roads and trails in or near the Trail Springs Fire area (Middle Mountain area). Details of the closure are on the Trail Springs Fire InciWeb page (QR code below) and on the “Alerts and Notices” page of the forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices 

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_8962.html#areas

Fire Information: 970-426-5370 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)