Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One 

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander   

Special Statement: This will be the last written update provided by the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team. On Saturday May 21, 2022 at 7:00AM the fire is transitioning to a Type 4 Incident Management Organization. 

 

Current Situation:  

Due to the continued great work by firefighters, containment has increased to 89%.  The fire area is predicted to receive 3 - 6 inches of snow over the next 24 hours. The remaining uncontained section of the fire is on the steep and rocky south end of Division Z east of Booger Red Hill and Fourmile Creek.  Crews will continue to work in this area going direct where it is safe to do so to reduce hotspots next to the line. Crews will continue to patrol contained sections of the fireline looking for hotspots.  

 

Yesterday there was a flare up on the interior of the fire and crews were quickly able to reduce the smoke. This is an important reminder that even when 100% perimeter containment is achieved, the interior of the fire will continue to smolder throughout the summer due to large stumps and heavy fuels.  

 

As containment increases and threat from the fire diminishes, rehabilitation work will begin. Brush and other materials will be pulled back over hand lines, dozer lines, staging areas and safety zones used during the fire suppression effort.  As much of the work on the fire nears completion, some resources are being demobilized and made available for reassignment to other fires.   

 

Safety:  The public is advised to stay out of burned areas due to the serious hazard of falling trees, ash pits, hot soil and loose debris. Additionally, please slow down and turn your lights on when traveling on roads adjacent to the fire area.  Heavy fire traffic should be expected, and firefighters may be working adjacent to roads. 

 

Evacuations and Fire Restrictions: All road closures and evacuations have been lifted for the High Park Fire.   

 

Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands across the Royal Gorge Field Office beginning on May 19, 2022. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xuFcR. Teller County remains under Stage 2 fire restrictions. 

High Park Fire Statistics: 

Size: estimated at 1,572 acres 

Containment: 89% 

Total Personnel: 305 

Location: 5.5 miles west of Cripple Creek, Teller County, Colorado 

Reported: May 12, 2022   

For More Information on High Park Fire: 

Teller County Sheriff PIO, Renee Bunting: (719) 661 - 5913  

Fire email: buntingr@co.teller 

Teller County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tellersheriff 

Incident Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highparkfire2022  

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8102/   

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One, Dan Dallas, Incident Commander 

Special Weather Statement: A Red Flag Warning for low relative humidity and gusty winds has been issued for today from 11 am to 9 pm.  Temperatures in the mid to high 70’s, minimum relative humidity of 13%, and WSW winds gusting to 38 mph are predicted for today.  Cooler temperatures and precipitation in the form of rain and snow are expected for the weekend.

Current Situation: Due to the continued great work by firefighters, containment has increased to 87%.  The remaining uncontained section of the fire is on the south end of Division Z east of Booger Red Hill and Fourmile Creek.  Hotshot crews will continue to work in this area going direct where it is safe to do so to reduce hotspots next to the line. Crews will continue to patrol contained sections of the fireline looking for hotspots and will remain vigilant through today’s red flag warning.

As containment increases and threat from the fire diminishes, rehabilitation work will begin on containment lines.  Brush and other materials will be pulled back over both the primary and contingency firelines to help prevent erosion.  As much of the work on the fire nears completion, some resources are being demobilized and made available for reassignment to other fires.  

Safety:  The public is asked to use extreme caution when travelling on roads adjacent to the fire area.  Heavy fire traffic should be expected, and firefighters may be working adjacent to roads.

Evacuations and Fire Restrictions: All road closures and evacuations have been lifted for the High Park Fire. 

Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands across the Royal Gorge Field Office beginning on May 19, 2022. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xuFcR. Teller County remains under Stage 2 fire restrictions. 

High Park Fire Statistics:

Size: estimated at 1,572 acres

 

Containment: 87%
 
Total Personnel: 367
 
Location: 5.5 miles west of Cripple Creek,
 
Teller County, Colorado
 
Reported: May 12, 2022 For More Information on High Park Fire:
 
 FFire Information Phone: 719-315-4005

Fire email: 2022.highpark@firenet.gov

Teller County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tellersheriff

Incident Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highparkfire2022

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8102/ 
 

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One 

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander  

 

Current Situation:  

The High Park Fire remains at 1572 acres, but containment has increased to 69% percent.   The increase in containment is primarily on the east flank of the fire behind the homes on Lakemoor Drive.  As containment is reached around the perimeter, the public is reminded that they may see smoke inside the fire boundary for some time to come.  Pockets of heat well interior may continue to smolder until significant moisture is received.   

 

In Division A/M, crews continue to patrol and mop up contained sections of the perimeter.  On the southern end of Division A/M, firefighters continue to construct direct and indirect containment line and look for opportunities to connect the firelines into Four Mile Creek. In Division Z, crews will mop up and patrol the contained portions of the division to further secure structures. On the remaining uncontained fire perimeter, firefighters are working direct along the fire’s edge, where safe to do so, and are continuing to mop up hotspots and construct fireline.  Crews will continue removing brush from the indirect dozer line constructed as a contingency line. 

 

Division T, includes the area between the eastern fire edge and Cripple Creek Ranches.  In this area firefighters have been scouting for containment opportunities in the event the fire makes a run to the east.  This information will be provided to the local agencies and can be used for future fire threats. Today crews continue to work around the Mount Pisgah communications site, removing hazardous fuels to reduce risk of loss of that critical infrastructure. The Structure group will continue working in the threatened communities in the evacuation area, assessing risk, and mopping up hotspots that may pose a risk to structures. 

 

Weather: Temperatures in the low 70s. South winds will be around 12 mph, gusting to 20 mph, with minimum relative humidity around 28 percent.  There is a 65% chance of precipitation this afternoon as showers and thunderstorms move through the area.   A Red Flag Warning for low relative humidity and gusty winds will be in effect tomorrow from 11 am to 9 pm.   

 

Evacuations and Fire Restrictions: Please visit the Teller County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for up-to-date information on restrictions, evacuations, and closures; an interactive map is available at http://tiny.cc/HighParkFire2022_TellerCo. 

 

Teller County is under Stage 2 fire restrictions. Sign up for emergency alerts at www.peakalerts.org. Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands across the Royal Gorge Field Office. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xuFcR.  

 

Special Note: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood, you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Learn more about wildfire smoke impacts at https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colo_advisory.aspx.  

 

The High Park Fire is located approximately 25 miles north of the Canon City wild horse holding facility. There is no threat from the fire to the wild horses. 

High Park Fire Statistics: 

Size: estimated at 1,572 acres 

Containment: 69% 

Total Personnel: 432 

Location: 5.5 miles west of Cripple Creek, Teller County, Colorado 

Reported: May 12, 2022 

For More Information on High Park Fire: 

  Fire Information Phone: 719-315-4005 

Fire email: 2022.highpark@firenet.gov 

Teller County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tellersheriff 

Incident Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highparkfire2022  

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8102/    
 
 

 
 

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One, Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Current Situation:  

The fire has grown to 1,572 acres based on Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control’s Multi-Mission Aircraft. The fire is 37 percent contained around the north and west sides of the fire perimeter. Helicopters operated yesterday, dousing areas of heat with water, while ground crews built containment line and conducted small burnout operations. Little rain fell over the fire area yesterday; not sufficient to increase fuel moisture. Fuels are critically dry, and the fire wants to grow in any direction, following slope, wind, and fuels. 

 

In Divisions A and M, crews will patrol, mop up and construct direct and indirect containment line toward the south. In Division Z, crews continue to secure remaining pockets of heat removing fuels around structures in case fire advances in that direction. Division T is being evaluated for contingency containment opportunities and to identify values at risk. A crew will work around the Mount Pisgah communications site today, removing hazardous fuels to reduce risk of loss of that critical infrastructure. The Structure group will be working in the threatened communities in the evacuation area, assessing risk, removing fuels, and preparing for the possibility of fire moving through. Night operations will continue to monitor for increased fire activity, securing any flare-ups that threaten containment lines. 

 

Numerous fire engines, water tenders, fire suppression modules, dozers, hand crews and Hotshots are fighting the fire from the ground. Three Type 1 and two Type 2 helicopters, and one air attack platform will continue to support the firefighting effort with aerial observation and bucket drops. Air tankers are available, if needed, but are not assigned to High Park Fire. 

 

Weather: Conditions are expected to be similar to yesterday, with temperatures in the mid to upper 70s. Skies will be mostly sunny in the morning, turning mostly cloudy later in the day. West-northwest winds will be around 10 mph, gusting to 20 mph, with minimum relative humidity around 11 percent. A weak cold front will pass through this evening, bringing a shift in wind direction and a slight chance for afternoon thunderstorms. 

Evacuations and Fire Restrictions: Please visit the Teller County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for up-to-date information on restrictions, evacuations, and closures; an interactive map is available at http://tiny.cc/HighParkFire2022_TellerCo. 

 

Teller County is under Stage 2 fire restrictions. Sign up for emergency alerts at www.peakalerts.org. Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands across the Royal Gorge Field Office. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xuFcR.  

 

Special Note: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood, you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Learn more about wildfire smoke impacts at https://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colo_advisory.aspx.  

 

The High Park Fire is located approximately 25 miles north of the Canon City wild horse holding facility. There is no threat from the fire to the wild horses. 

High Park Fire Statistics:
 

Size: estimated at 1,572 acres 
 

Containment: 37% 
 

Total Personnel: 279 
 

Location: 5.5 miles west of Cripple Creek, Teller County, Colorado 
 

Reported: May 12, 2022 

For More Information on High Park Fire: 

Fire Information Phone: 719-315-4005 
 

Fire email: 2022.highpark@firenet.gov 
 

Teller County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tellersheriff 
 

Incident Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highparkfire2022  
 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8102/     
 
 

 

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One, Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Weather: The High Park Incident Meteorologist has issued a Red Flag warning for the fire area today. Weather will be increasingly cloudy over the course of the day, with a chance of isolated afternoon thunderstorms that could bring gusty, erratic winds, but little chance of rain. Sustained winds will be out of the south-southwest at 10 – 15 mph, with gusts to 30 mph. Humidity will be around 15 percent.

Current Situation:

The fire has grown to 1,558 acres based on last night’s infrared flyover. The fire is 27 percent contained around the north and west sides of the fire perimeter. Air operations have been active with helicopters running dip and drop cycles every three minutes, delivering water over areas of heat, primarily in the southern end of the fire. Retardant has been effective in holding the advancing flame front ahead of crews digging firelines. Four loads of retardant were applied yesterday. Fuels are critically dry, and the fire wants to grow in any direction, following slope, wind, and fuels.

In Divisions A and M, crews will continue to build on past work securing the fire’s edge. Crews will progress southward scouting for opportunities to connect current dozer and hand lines to Fourmile Creek. The structure group will be in Division Z, securing remaining pockets of heat and ensuring structures are prepared in case fire advances in that direction. Crews will construct line from Lakemoor Drive down to Rattlesnake Gulch, in preparation for eventual burnout operations. A new Division T will be staffed with overhead who will identify contingencies for containment in case current efforts are unsuccessful.

Three Type 1, two Type 2, and one Type 3 helicopters and one air attack platform will continue to support the firefighting effort with aerial observation and bucket drops. Air tankers are available, if needed, but are not assigned to High Park Fire.

Evacuations and Fire Restrictions: Please visit the Teller County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for up-to-date information on restrictions, evacuations, and closures; an interactive map is available at http://tiny.cc/HighParkFire2022_TellerCo.

Teller County is under Stage 2 fire restrictions. Sign up for emergency alerts at www.peakalerts.org. Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands across the Royal Gorge Field Office. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xuFcR.

Special Note: The High Park Fire is located approximately 25 miles north of the Canon City wild horse holding facility. There is no threat from the fire to the wild horses.

High Park Fire Statistics: Size: estimated at 1,558 acres Containment: 27% Total Personnel: 180 Location: 5.5 miles west of Cripple Creek, Teller County, Colorado Reported: May 12, 2022

For More Information on High Park Fire: Fire Information Phone: 719-315-4005 Fire email: 2022.highpark@firenet.gov Teller County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tellersheriff Incident Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highparkfire2022 Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8102/

 Visit http://tiny.cc/HighParkFire2022_TellerCo to learn about evauations and pre-evacuation notices.

Teller County Road 11 is closed between milepost 3 and its intersection with Teller County Road 112.

The Royal Gorge Field Office has closed Booger Red Road due to the High Park Fire.

Special Note:  The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team One (CIMT1), with Dan Dallas as Incident Commander, assumed command of the High Park Fire at 7 a.m. today. The CIMT1 brings overhead supervision and logistical support to incidents when local resources reach capacity.

Weather: Weather today is expected to be mostly sunny with north-northwest winds of 8 to 18 mph this morning shifting to south-southwest winds of 10 – 20 mph. There is a possibility for isolated afternoon thunderstorms, which will bring gusty, erratic winds, but little chance of rain. Humidity will be slightly higher today at 8 to 13 percent.

Current Situation:

The Colorado Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) flew last night at 9 pm and has mapped the High Park Fire at 1,173 acres.  The increase in size is due to a combination of firing operations to secure indirect fireline and wind-driven fire. It is burning in ponderosa pine and grass in steep, rocky terrain with High Park Road to the west and Fourmile Creek to the east. The fire has been most active at the southeast corner of the fire perimeter, where it spotted across Fourmile Creek.

On the northwest section of the fire, in Division A, firefighters will continue to patrol and mop up heat sources, securing the fire’s edge. On the west/ southwest section, in Division M, engine crews and dozers will continue to patrol, mop up, and secure existing fireline, as well as look for opportunities to tie in with roads and other control features to secure the southern end of the fire perimeter east to where fire spotted across Fourmile Creek. Fire suppression modules on the eastern edge, in Division Z, will scout for opportunities for direct attack around active fire at the southeast corner of the fire’s perimeter. The structure group will remove hazardous fuels and prepare for defense if fire should move toward structures.

Two Type 1, two Type 2, and one Type 3 helicopters and 2 air attack platforms will continue to support the firefighting effort with aerial observation and bucket drops.

Evacuations and Fire Restrictions: Please visit the Teller County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for up-to-date information on restrictions, evacuations, and closures. Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Lakemoor Subdivision, Cripple Creek Ranches, and the Mt. Pisgah area.

Pre-evacuation notices are in effect for Rhyolite Mountain Mesa, Monarch, and Lost Canyon, and County Road 11 is closed from milepost 3 to County Road 112. An evacuation shelter has been set up at Woodland Park High School, and livestock can be taken to Cripple Creek Fairgrounds.

Teller County is under Stage 2 fire restrictions. Sign up for emergency alerts at www.peakalerts.org. Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands across the Royal Gorge Field Office. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xuFcR.

High Park Fire Statistics: Size: 1,173 acres Total Personnel: approx. 150 with more arriving Location: 5.5 miles west of Cripple Creek, Teller County, Colorado Reported: May 12, 2022

For More Information on High Park Fire: Fire Information Phone: 719-315-4005 Fire email: 2022.highpark@firenet.gov Teller County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tellersheriff Incident Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highparkfire2022 Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8102/

[edited to update acres and containment] Current Situation: The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 will arrive this evening to assume command of the High Park Fire tomorrow. The fire has grown to approximately 1,000 acres through a combination of burnout operations and wind-driven fire. Crews have achieved 10% containment. It is burning in ponderosa pine and grass on a ridge with High Park Road to the west and steep, rocky terrain with dense fuels dropping to Fourmile Creek to the east, in Teller County.

Water and retardant drops by air resources have helped to temper fire behavior as ground crews conduct burnout operations to protect structures, focusing resources on the Lakemoor and Fourmile Creek areas. Red Flag conditions are in effect again today with predicted west to southwest winds of 15 to 25, gusting to 35 miles per hour, and single-digit relative humidity from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

The Teller County Sheriff’s Office expanded evacuation orders yesterday, which now include Lakemoor Subdivision, Cripple Creek Ranches, and the Mt. Pisgah area. Pre-evacuation notices are in effect for Rhyolite Mountain Mesa, Monarch, and Lost Canyon, and multiple road closures are in place. An evacuation shelter has been set up at Woodland Park High School, and livestock can be taken to Cripple Creek Fairgrounds. Teller County is under Stage 2 fire restrictions.

Please visit the Teller County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for up-to-date information on restrictions, evacuations, and closures. Sign up for emergency alerts at www.peakalerts.org. Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands across the Royal Gorge Field Office. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xuFcR.

The BLM Royal Gorge Field Office and Teller County Sheriff’s Office are grateful for support from more than a dozen responding agencies, including members of the Platte Canyon, Divide, Cripple Creek, Tallahassee, Florissant, Fourmile, and Mountain Communities fire protection districts; Victor, Northeast Teller, and Lake George fire departments; Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, U.S. Forest Service, Southwest Teller Ambulance Service, Woodland Park and Cripple Creek police departments, Park County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, and BLM. Approximately 150 air and ground resources are assigned to the fire, including Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control’s Multi Mission Aircraft, one Type 1 and one Type 2 helicopters, an air attack platform, and multiple fire engines, fire suppression modules, and dozers.

High Park Fire Information:

Reported: May 12, 2022, 4:16 p.m.

Location: 5.5 miles west of Cripple Creek

Size: Approximately 1,000 acres

Percent Contained: 10% 

Cause: Unknown

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8102/

Information Phone Line: 719-315-4005