Simms Fire Update
Wednesday, May 26, 2022 – 9:00am
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests
Type 3 Incident Management Team
Justin Reece, Incident Commander


Current Situation:
The Simms Fire acreage is currently 313 acres with 100% containment. Firefighters continue to patrol and grid the fire area for hot spots. Crews are performing mop up within the burn area and along containment lines. Personnel have been able to begin “suppression repair”. This process rehabilitates handlines that were dug by fire crews and returns them to a more natural state. Firefighters are reporting very little smoke and fewer, smaller hot spots in the fire area. An infrared (IR) flight will be flown today to help locate any remaining hot spots.
The Type 3 Incident Command Team continues to manage the fire. Resources assigned include hand crews, engines, water tenders, heavy equipment, and an ambulance. 
 
Safety:
Careful consideration for public and firefighter safety remains the top priority on this incident. Wildcat Canyon and T & M Roads remain closed to the public while fire operations continue. Firefighters request that the public avoid the fire affected area out of respect for community and firefighter safety.
 
Weather & Fuel Conditions:
Temperatures will be in the upper 60’s today, relative humidity could dip below 20 percent. Winds will remain from the northwest; sustained winds are expected to be 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. A high-pressure ridge is expected to enter the region today. This will bring a warming and drying trend. A potential for strong and gusty southwest winds are predicted by this weekend.
 
Evacuations and Fire Restrictions:
There are no evacuation orders in place currently. For more information contact https://ouraycountyco.gov/272/Emergency-Management.

Simms Fire Statistics:
Size: 313 acres
Containment: 100%
Total Personnel: Approximately 76
Location: 15 miles southwest of Montrose
Reported: May 19, 2022
Cause: Under investigation

For More Information:
Phone: 970-765-7176
Email: 2022.simms@firenet.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMUGFireInfo
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8117/
West Slope Fire Information: www.WestSlopeFireInfo.com

 Simms Fire Update                                                               

Wednesday, May 25, 2022 – 9:00am                                                                                  

Simms Fire Update

Simms Fire Update

Join cooperators, local officials, and Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team this evening, May 21, 6:00pm at the Montrose Event Center for an in person and virtual public meeting regarding the Simms Fire. The meeting will also be live streamed live on Facebook.

The Montrose Event Center is located at 1036 N 7th Street, Montrose, CO 81401 and the link to join the Facebook live stream can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1141538543368781?ref=newsfeed

Simms Fire Update

Saturday May 21, 2022 – 9 am

Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team 

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Special Note: The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One assumed command of the fire at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2022. There will be a community meeting tonight at 6 pm about the Simms Fire.  Details are being worked out at this time so please watch Inciweb and Facebook for announcement.

Current Situation: As a fire gets larger or additional resources are brought in, the fire is broken into geographic areas called Divisions to help focus suppression efforts and to help with supervisory span of control. We will use these terms in our updates to provide specific information about each part of the fire perimeter. Divisions will be shown on the fire maps. In Division A, on the west side of the fire, firefighters will continue to secure the fireline by mopping up any hotspots near containment lines and will construct handline into Wildcat Canyon. In Division Z, on the east side of the fire, firefighters will continue to secure the fireline by mopping up any hotspots near containment lines and grid the area outside of the fire perimeter to ensure there are no spot fires that could pose a risk when fuels dry out. The Structure Group will continue to mop up and secure around structures.

Safety: All evacuations have been lifted and Government Springs Road is open to through traffic.  Wildcat Canyon and T & M Roads leading into the fire area remain closed, and in the interest of public safety, fire officials ask the public to please avoid the area and respect all emergency closures. Firefighter and public safety remain the priorities on this incident.

Weather & Fuel Conditions: Moderated fire weather conditions are likely again today.  Although relative humidity has been high most of yesterday and last night, expect afternoon values to bottom out near 20% today and Sunday. Temperatures will begin to slowly warm up but remain below normal for this time of year with highs near 64 degrees.  Winds will be WNW at 10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph.

Evacuations and Fire Restrictions: The evacuation order has been lifted except for the Wildcat Canyon drainage. T&M Road and Wildcat Canyon Road will be open to residents but are still closed to the public. For more information contact, https://ouraycountyco.gov/272/Emergency-Management


Simms Fire Statistics:
Size: 373 acres
Containment: 15%
Total Personnel: approximately 220 
Location: 15 miles southwest of Montrose
Reported: May 19, 2022 
Cause: Under investigation For More Information:
Phone: 970-765-7309
Email:  2022.simms@firenet.gov 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMUGFireInfo 
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8117/ 
West Slope Fire Information: www.WestSlopeFireInfo.com

Simms Fire – Evening Update
Montrose, Colorado, May 20, 2022
 
Name: Simms Fire
Location: 15 miles southwest of Montrose
Size: 370 acres
Cause: Under investigation
Jurisdiction: USFS and BLM
Resources Assigned: 1 large helicopter, 10 engines, 2 water tenders, 1 dozer, 2 fire modules, 1 Type 2 IA crew, 1 Hotshot Crew
Estimated Containment: 15%
Threatened Structures: 10
Structures Lost: 3
Emergency Evacuations: Wildcat Canyon Drainage

Firefighters on the ground with the help of air support were able to make progress toward containment. A half mile of dozer line was completed as well as fire retardant being dropped to create a border around the fire. Firefighters provided structure protection overnight and it remains a high priority into this evening. Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team 1 will assume command at 6 a.m. May 21.

The terrain is steep and rocky in the drainages and flat up on top with rolling hills in pinyon, juniper, ponderosa and aspen trees with brushy vegetation. The fire traveled into a previous Bureau of Land Management prescribed fire treatment which significantly reduced the intensity of the fire and slowed the fire’s progression. The fire saw favorable weather today, including snow, brought by a cold front coming through the area. Minimal mop up was needed.

In the interest of public safety, fire officials ask the public to please avoid the area and respect all emergency closures. Firefighter and public safety remain the priorities on this incident.The evacuation order has been lifted except for the Wildcat Canyon drainage. T&M Road and Wildcat Canyon Road will be open to residents but are still closed to the public. For more information contact, https://ouraycountyco.gov/272/Emergency-Management

For more information, please call the fire information line at (970) 765-7309.

Fire Information Links:Simms Fire
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8117/
West Slope Fire Information: www.WestSlopeFireInfo.com
GMUG Fire Info Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMUGFireInfo

Simms Fire – Update

Montrose, Colorado, May 20, 2022

Name: Simms Fuego