Single Publication

Little Mesa Fire Update – Sunday, August 20, 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: 3,896 acres                                         

Vegetation Type: Pinyon, Juniper, sagebrush, grass

Containment: 30%                                                      

Total Personnel:  35                           

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: Air operations may be 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 accomplished a lot of great work patrolling and securing the fire perimeter. They focused on the southwest end off Dry Mesa Road to Black Point Road using a cold trailing technique, which means using the back of their bare hands to feel for heat. When heat is detected, they dig out the spot using their fire tool to cool it off. Water and dirt may also be used to assist. The excavator completed road repair and cleanup work, as well as digging holes for fence posts. The fire area did not receive any precipitation. Dry and windy conditions caused some single tree torching within the interior but did not threaten the fire line.  

Today, firefighters will patrol and secure the perimeter by extinguishing any heat near the edge. Fire activity within the interior may pick up as pockets of unburned fuel flare up. Firefighters will remain alert as the area enters a warming and drying trend.

Weather: Tropical storm Hilary will cause an increase in the winds in the next couple of days. Mostly sunny today, with temperatures in the upper 80s. Conditions will dry out with increasing winds to 10 to 15 mph and gusts to 25 mph as dry air encompasses the area. Localized critical fire weather is possible, particularly in the lower valleys.

Warmer and drier temperatures and gusty afternoon winds will start to dry out vegetation, which will support easier fire spread in the dense vegetation within the interior.

Evacuations and Closures: No evacuations have been issued. Temporary road closures are in place 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. 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