Single Publication

Currant Creek Fire Update - Sunday, July 28, 2024

11:30 am

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The Delta County Sheriff’s Office is providing a morning update on the Currant Creek Fire east of Cedaredge near Redlands Mesa. The fire is still burning but fire growth was knocked down substantially Saturday afternoon and evening thanks to the efforts of the Cedaredge Fire Protection District, Hotchkiss Fire District and crews from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and aviation assets.

A type 1 helicopter and four single engine air tankers performed water and fire-retardant drops on the fire Saturday afternoon following a brief thunderstorm that moved through the area and provided much needed rain and hail over the fire. This moisture combined with the water and retardant drops significantly altered fire behavior and caused the fire to lay down and stop progressing at a rapid pace. The fire is burning in pinon-juniper forest, oak brush and other brush types in steep terrain which is a challenge for fire crews.

The majority of the fire is contained on private property as of 7:00 am Sunday morning. On Saturday evening, the Cedaredge Fire Protection District turned the fire over to the Delta County Sheriff’s Office as a county responsibility fire. The Sheriff’s Office then formally requested the CO Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) assume command and control of the fire as a State Responsibility fire and that request has been granted as of Sunday morning. The Fire is being managed by Incident Commanders from the BLM with assistance from DFPC.

The CO Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) utilizing state of the art infrared cameras and software has mapped the fire at approximately 182 acres as of Saturday evening. An image of the current boundary and size of the fire has been included to show the location of the fire in location to 3100 Road and other residences in the area.

At the recommendation of the Fire Incident Commanders, Fire Chiefs from Hotchkiss and Cedaredge Fire Protection Districts, and the Delta County Undersheriff, the pre-evacuation status for residents of upper Redlands Mesa and Leroux Creek as noted below will remain in effect until incident commanders can report more containment on the fire with the pending red flag conditions.

Pre-Evacuation Area: The pre-evacuation notice applies to residents who live on 3100 Road north of Redlands Mesa Road to the Forest Service Boundary and West along Redlands Mesa Road to Rim Rock Road and Currant Creek north to the forest service boundary. A polygon shape from the Delta County Alert issued on Saturday, July 27th is included to show this area. The Pre-Evacuation Notice means residents should be taking preparations to leave in the event the fire grows and starts progressing to the east or southeast towards residences. Pre-evacuation tips can be found online at US Fire Administration’s Website (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/.../wildfire-evacuation...) .

Fire crews held a briefing Sunday morning at 7:00 am and multiple engine crews and two type-two hand crews remain on the fire today and are working hard to establish containment lines around the fire. Additional resources have been ordered to suppress the fire and will arrive mid-day today. The National Weather Service has forecast Red Flag Warnings for across Delta County today. This means low relative humidity, low moisture levels in fuels and the potential for high winds which can drive fire growth. Fire crews have informed the county their main objective is to improve containment and address hotspots on the fire to prevent flare up and increased fire behavior as red flag conditions persist this afternoon.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Delta County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Land Management. The Delta County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management, Delta County leadership, DFPC and BLM are working jointly to support fire suppression efforts on this fire and prevent future growth and risk to the residents of upper Redlands Mesa and Leroux Creek.

Fire updates will be shared as they become available and will be posted to the Delta County Website at DeltaCountyCO.gov/Alerts – click on the Currant Creek Fire button. Updates are also posted to the Delta County Alerts Facebook page and Delta County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

We encourage all residents in the vicinity of the fire and across Delta County to be sure you are registered for Delta County Alerts by opting into emergency alerts by registering your home address, phone numbers and email address with Delta County Alerts. For more information on how alerts work and to sign up, please visit DeltaCountyCO.gov/Alerts.

https://deltacountyco.gov/656/Issued-Alerts