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Trail Springs and Mill Creek 2 Fire Update: October 28, 2023
Trail Springs Fire, Mill Creek 2 Fire
Publication Type: News 10/29/2023
Type 3 Team, Incident Commander Scott Bovey, 142 Personnel
Overview: Some light rain fell over both fires overnight and more is in the forest for Sunday. Even with warm weather and gusty winds Friday, the Trail Springs Fire was not very active. Minimal activity was observed on Mill Creek 2.
Trail Springs Fire | Size:1250 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Lightning
The fire was slowly backing downhill toward Devil Creek on Friday but conditions were moderate and firefighters made good progress securing fire lines in those areas where they have been directly working along the fire’s edge. Other crews continued to “mop-up” along roads and trails that were “burned-out” on Wednesday and Thursday. Burn-outs are done by thinning vegetation on the side of the road or trail closest to the fire, and then methodically using drip torches to burn some of the remaining vegetation. On this fire, a helicopter also assisted by dropping small incendiaries deeper in the forest. All that work deprives the wildfire of fuel in front of it, making it less intense and easier to contain. The burn-out connected the Trail Springs Fire to fire scar left by this summer’s Chris Mountain Fire, creating a large buffer if the fire was to move to the south or east. On the west side of the fire, also above Devil Creek, the fire continues to smolder in heavy dead trees and logs but firefighters have not engaged there because of very steep terrain and the difficulty of getting anyone out, should an injury occur.
Mill Creek 2 Fire |Size: 121 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Under Investigation
While small pockets of dead logs continue to smolder, The Mill Creek 2 Fire continues to show little activity. Firefighters remain positioned nearby and are ready to respond appropriately if fire activity picks up.
Weather: Light rain off and on this morning, stopping by afternoon with gusty winds. More rain overnight, as much as an additional .2 of an inch.
San Juan NF Temporary Closures: An area closure is in place covering some 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 (link below) and the “Alerts and Notices” page of the forest website:
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.) | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanjuannationalforest