Single Publication

Little Mesa Fire Update

Friday, August 25, 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: 4,009 acres                                         

Vegetation Type: Pinyon, Juniper, sagebrush, grass

Containment: 40%    

Total Personnel:  25                                                                                           

Special Note:  This will be the last daily update for the Little Mesa Fire, unless fire activity increases significantly. Firefighting personnel remain working on the fire and are prepared for quick response should fire conditions change in upcoming days.

Current Situation: Minimal fire activity was observed yesterday from recent rain; still, subsurface pockets of heat, stumps, and logs within the perimeter will continue to smolder until larger amounts of precipitation extinguish them or they burn themselves out. Firefighters continued to patrol and secure the fire edge while monitoring vegetation conditions for an opportunity to burn the southern lines along Black Point Road and Dry Mesa Road. However, the proper conditions never presented themselves; it was too humid and damp. Yesterday afternoon, light to moderate rain moved over the fire area and continued throughout the night.

In the forthcoming days, fire resources will continue to patrol the perimeter and be vigilant of changing fire conditions as the area begins to dry out next week. Firefighters will observe conditions looking for opportunities to burn the southern lines along Black Point Road and Dry Mesa Road to remove unburned vegetation between the fire perimeter and roads. Completing this burn and reducing available vegetation will tie the fire perimeter into the roads and assure that the fire will not cross the roads.

Weather: Widespread isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecasted in the morning increasing to a 50% chance of wetting rain by afternoon. The area could receive up to one half to one inch of rain. Temperatures will be in the 70’s with south winds 5 mph switching to west in the afternoon. Gusty and erratic winds are expected near thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Evacuations and Closures: No evacuations have been issued. Temporary road closures are in place in Delta County on Dry Mesa Road at the intersection with Escalante Rim Road and on USFS Dry Mesa Road at Sawmill Mesa Road junction. The GMUG National Forests 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