Single Publication

Little Mesa Fire Update

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Location: Approx. 15 miles west, southwest of Delta, CO, Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Area     

Discovered: July 31, 2023, 11:00 AM                           

Cause: Lightning                    

Estimated Size: 3,483 acres                                         

Vegetation Type: Pinyon, Juniper, sagebrush, grass

Containment: 10%                                                      

Total Personnel:  73                           

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: Air operations are being conducted on the Little Mesa Fire. For your safety, please stay out of the Potholes Recreation Area. The helicopters are using this water source for fire suppression.

Current Situation: Yesterday, firefighters made great progress continuing to secure the fire perimeter from Tatum Ridge Road, Dry Mesa to Black Point Road. The fire had no real growth, but due to better mapping the map shows an increase in acreage. A fire crew used hand ignitions to add more depth to assist in securing the perimeter. Rain showers bypassed the fire area yesterday.

Today, fire crews will continue to secure the fire perimeter in hopes of increasing containment in coming days. Hand ignitions will also continue within the perimeter to clean up areas of unburned vegetation missed by aerial ignitions. This effort will assist in decomposition of woody material for resource benefit. Suppression repair will be started with the use of an excavator to repair mastication lines and to close previously closed roads with large natural material. Crews will repair hand line and fences, along with starting to seed burn area.    

Weather: High pressure remains overhead today with subtropical moisture in place, resulting in another day of potential afternoon showers and storms primarily on the southern end of the fire. Potential for heavier rain and frequent lightning with gusty outflow winds are the primary concerns. Temperatures will remain in the lower 80s with 8 to 12 mph winds from the southwest. In coming days, the flow shifts to the south, resulting in a more favorable monsoon pattern to pull the moisture north.

Evacuations and Closures: No evacuations have been issued. Temporary road closures in Delta County on Dry Mesa Rd at the intersection with Escalante Rim Rd and on USFS Dry Mesa Rd at Sawmill Mesa Rd junction. The GMUG National Forests have issued a forest closure order for the area around the Little Mesa Fire. Public access to the closure area is limited, visit https://bit.ly/3YwXNz0 for more information.

Smoke:  Smoke is visible from surrounding areas and Highways 50, 550, 92, 65, 141 and C37 Road. Go to fire.airnow.gov or colorado.gov/airquality/ to get updates on smoke conditions.

Aviation Safety:  Incident aircraft may be flying over the Little Mesa Fire air space. Fire aviation resources are flying at different altitudes and speeds. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones must never fly near wildfires. The only UAS or drones able to fly are agency owned and operated, which have been assigned to work on the wildfire and have communication with air operations. Remember if you fly, we can’t!

For updated information follow on these outlets:

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/coupd-little-mesa-fire

Facebook: @LittleMesaFire                 Twitter: @SWD_Fire