Higher humidity overnight resulted in slightly decreased fire activity this morning, but as things dry out this afternoon, fire activity will increase.  Expect firefighters to take advantage of conditions this afternoon to continue firing operations near the 542 Road in the north part of the fire, and along CO127/125 in the southern portion of the fire.  These firing operations are intended to remove unburned fuels to extend and widen control lines.

Fire crews in the northwest portion will continue to scout and identify suitable line locations to secure the fire. For the past several days, northwesterly winds have assisted in keeping fire from spreading rapidly in this portion of the fire.

Our Story Map shows the most recent perimeters of both the Mullen Fire and Cameron Peak Fire and includes features to look up your address and measure the distance to the fire – or between the fires. See it here at: https://arcg.is/1mnyXL

 Virtual Community Q&A TODAY at 5 p.m.

The meeting will be livestreamed on the Mullen Fire Information page (https://www.facebook.com/MullenFire)

Summary

Containment was established on the fire’s northwest flank one mile north of the A Bar A Road south to Six Mile Road. Containment percentage was measured at 6%. Additional containment to the east is shown on fire maps and will be measured tomorrow.

Mild weather and the influx of resources are allowing firefighters to aggressively attack the fire using strategic aerial and ground firing operations. Fire crews are working along roads and accessible areas to reduce vegetation where they have the highest probability of success at limiting fire spread. Structure protection in Ramber, the Rob Roy area, Keystone, Lake Creek, Fox Park and Albany is established. New structure protection resources are focusing on communities to the west of Hwy 230 and south into Colorado.

Yesterday, firing operations successfully defended a group of structures in the Pelton Creek drainage. On the southern end of the fire, defensive lines were expanded inside the CO127/ CO125 loop using firing operations. Firefighters quickly suppressed several spot fires outside that area, guided by real-time aerial infrared imagery from an unmanned aerial system (UAS) or drone. When conditions are favorable today, firefighters will continue firing operations to extend control lines. On the north, crews plan to continue firing operations along the 542 Road to the Keystone fire scar securing Albany and communities to the north. Structure protection will be available in all areas as needed and firing operations will be ongoing. Increased smoke is expected during firing operations.

Fire crews are still working in evacuated areas to extinguish hot spots and remove hazards. For public and firefighter safety, evacuations will remain in effect until conditions change or risks are reduced.

Fire Conditions and Weather

Better overnight humidity recovery and cooler temperatures today will decrease fire activity a bit today until early afternoon. Northwest winds are expected in that timeframe. West winds Sunday will impact fire activity to the east.

Road and Forest Closures Road status can change quickly change in response to fire conditions. For the most current information on Wyoming and Colorado road closures, please see https://www.wyoroad.info/pls/Browse/WRR.STATIC5?SelectedDistrict=1 and https://cotrip.org/travelAlerts.htm#?roadId=

This morning, the Mullen Fire is now 6% contained, on two sections of the fire perimeter: The west flank south of A Bar A ranch, and the east flank where the Mullen Fire met the Squirrel Creek Fire burn area. The size of the fire is now 136,840 acres, based on an aerial infrared measurement made at 11:00 pm last night. 

Yesterday’s firing operations successfully defended a group of structures in the Pelton Creek drainage, and expanded the defensive line along the north sides of Colorado Hwy. 127 and Colorado Hwy. 125. Firefighters quickly suppressed several spot fires on the south flank, guided by real-time aerial infrared imagery from an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS, or “drone”). When conditions are favorable today, firefighters will continue firing operations to extend control lines.

A printable PDF version of today’s map is available in the Maps section.

If a new perimeter measurement is available today, our interactive Story Map (https://arcg.is/1mnyXL) will display it. This map shows the most recent perimeters of both the Mullen Fire and Cameron Peak Fire, and includes features to look up your address and measure the distance to the fire – or between the fires. 

An infrared flight at 4:36 this afternoon measured the Mullen Fire at 132,379 acres. The fire is now 6% contained, on the eastern edge. Today, firing operations in Jackson County, Colorado continued to improve roads as a control feature by removing fuels along more of Colorado Hwy. 127 and Colorado Hwy. 125.

In evacuated communities all over the fire area, firefighters remain vigilant. They continue to find ways to improve structure protection, as they defend communities against increases in fire activity. 1,068 personnel of many skills are working together to extinguish the fire as soon as possible, and keep it as small as possible, while reducing risks to the public and firefighters.

Our interactive Story Map shows the most recent perimeters of both the Mullen Fire and Cameron Peak Fire, and includes features to look up your address and measure the distance to the fire – or between the fires. See it here at: https://arcg.is/1mnyXL

Today, in several areas around the Mullen Fire, firefighters continue to create fuel breaks by removing fuels between roads and the main body of the fire. Logging operations are reducing heavy fuels around the Rambler, Foxborough and Fox Park areas.

West of Albany, burnout operations are gradually moving west along the 513 and 542 Roads. On the south, burnouts are continuing along the north sides of Colorado Hwy. 127 and Colorado Hwy. 125. In all areas of the fire, aerial firefighters are supporting personnel on the ground.

Fire managers’ goal is full suppression of the Mullen Fire. Firefighters will extinguish the fire as soon as possible, and keep it as small as possible, while reducing risks to the public and firefighters.

The active behavior of both the Mullen Fire and Cameron Peak Fire is creating increasing smoke impacts to southern Wyoming and northern Colorado. To see today’s Smoke Outlook please go to the link below this article. 

An infrared measurement of the fire is being made today. When that new perimeter is available, our Story Map will automatically show it, along with the Cameron Peak Fire. This interactive map includes features to look up your address and measure the distance to the fire – or between the fires. See it here at: https://arcg.is/1mnyXL 

Please see the attached BLM closure order and map for the Mullen Fire on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. 

Effective October 1, 2020, and in order to protect life safety and resources on public lands, the BLM Kremmling Field Office issued Closure Order Number CON02-P2NLT1-001.

Virtual Community Q&A TODAY at 5 p.m.
The meeting will be livestreamed on the Mullen Fire Information page (https://www.facebook.com/MullenFire) 
 
Summary 
Late in the day yesterday, the fire spotted three miles in front of the fire but was quickly contained by crews on the ground with assistance from the Single Engine Air Tankers using retardant. Overnight crews were able to implement planned firing operations in several critical locations. The firing operation on the southern end of the fire along CO 127 from the WY state line south to the junction with CO 125 will continue today. The objective of this operation is to remove vegetation from in front of the fire to slow or limit fire spread. Firing operations south of Albany followed the 542 Road and pipeline and should be complete in the next few days if conditions allow. This protects communities on the north end in the event of a wind shift from the southwest. 

Structure protection activities in Foxborough, Fox Park and communities south to the Colorado border are ongoing. Extinguishing hotspots around structures continues among many evacuated communities and firefighters continue to find pockets of fire, making it unsafe to lift current evacuations. Fire managers evaluate fire conditions daily; lifting evacuations will occur when firefighters can ensure public safety.

Mullen firefighters are utilizing a swing shift. This involves scheduling firefighters to come in late morning to bolster the day resources and work later into the night. This maximizes the number of people working at the typical peak burning time in the afternoon. This strategy also leaves personnel on the line during the evening hours when humidity is higher and it is possible to work closer to the perimeter. Tonight, the fire will have 24-hour coverage with the addition of a night shift. Incident managers have also organized the structure group so it can mobilize as needed to locations on the fire, rather than being assigned to one location or division.

Current road closures remain in place for both public and firefighter safety. Though these closures present an inconvenience to both travelers and property owners, they are crucial to accountability and safety of everyone who may be in the area.
 
Fire Conditions and Weather
A Red Flag Warning is expected for today due to poor overnight humidity recovery, which contributed to active overnight fire activity. Today, northwest winds from 25-30 miles per hour are expected. A cold front is expected to pass through the fire area tonight. West winds are expected over the weekend.
 
Mandatory Evacuations 
Multiple evacuations and pre-evacuations are in place. For current lists, see:

• Albany County Sheriff Office (WY) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Albany-County-Sheriffs-Office-618424944997540
• Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (CO) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JacksonCountySheriffOffice 
• Larimer County (CO): https://nocoalert.org/ 
  

Road and Forest Closures
Road status can change quickly change in response to fire conditions. For the most current information on Wyoming and Colorado road closures, please see https://www.wyoroad.info/pls/Browse/WRR.STATIC5?SelectedDistrict=1 and https://cotrip.org/travelAlerts.htm#?roadId=   No estimate is available about reopening these roads.
A Forest area closure is in effect surrounding the Mullen Fire for public safety. See the new Forest Closure Orders for Medicine-Bow Routt NF https://tinyurl.com/y4gb8bqs and Arapaho and Roosevelt NF  https://tinyurl.com/y2e3qn3y

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in Effect for the Fire Area
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd786902.pdf  Albany County, WY: https://www.co.albany.wy.us/247/Fire-Restrictions

Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect for the Mullen Fire, issued October 1: https://tinyurl.com/yyjqff4o

This morning, the size of the #MullenFire_WY is 127,503 acres, based on an aerial infrared measurement made just after midnight. 1,057 personnel are assigned to the effort to slow the fire’s spread while also protecting values at risk all over the fire area. Fire managers expect another day of active fire behavior, and a large fleet of aircraft is available to support the firefighting effort on the ground.

Yesterday and last night, firefighters conducted a successful burnout operation along the north sides of Colorado Hwy. 127 and Colorado Hwy. 125 to block the fire’s advance by removing fuels from the sides of those roads. When conditions are favorable, firefighters will continue those burnout operations to remove additional fuels between the roads and the main body of the fire. Those burnouts may include aerial firing operations. In other areas of the fire, burnout operations are also planned along roads, fire lines and natural features to limit the fire’s spread.

Last night, the main body of the fire was active north of Colorado Hwy. 125 and Colorado Hwy. 127. Out of an abundance of caution, the Sheriff of Jackson County, Colorado called for an additional mandatory evacuation in the area of Hwy. 127. For details, go to: https://www.facebook.com/JacksonCountySheriffOffice 

A printable PDF version of today’s Public Information Map is linked below, and posted to the Maps section. If a new perimeter measurement is available today, our interactive Story Map (https://arcg.is/1mnyXL) will display it. This map shows the most recent perimeters of both the Mullen Fire and Cameron Peak Fire, and includes features to look up your address and measure the distance to the fire – or between the fires. 

An infrared flight at midday today measured the Mullen Fire at 118,778 acres. More than 1,000 personnel are now fully engaged in the effort to control the fire and protect structures threatened by it.

Today, firefighters conducted burnout operations along key roads, to create control lines to prevent the spread of the fire to the north and the south. That effort will continue tomorrow, and may use aircraft to conduct some firing operations.

In Jackson County, Colorado, the south flank of the fire became so active that it started a spot fire three miles south of the main fire. Firefighters in that area immediately responded and held that new fire’s size to 10 acres. Tonight, they are aggressively working to contain and secure that small fire.

Our Story Map shows the most recent perimeters of both the Mullen Fire and Cameron Peak Fire, and includes features to look up your address and measure the distance to the fire – or between the fires. See it here at: https://arcg.is/1mnyXL

Fort Collins, Colo., October 1, 2020 – Due to fire activity on both the Cameron Peak Fire burning in the northwest portion of Larimer County, and the Mullen Fire, burning across the Colorado/Wyoming border, the closure order on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest is expanding to the north. The general area now closed is all National Forest System lands west of the National Forest boundary (except the lower Poudre Canyon); east of the Colorado State Forest State Park; south of the Colorado state line; and north of Rocky Mountain Park (see map). Details of the updated closure and a map are available on our website.

This closure impacts numerous recreation sites, including many trails, trailheads, and Forest Service Roads; a number of boating and fishing sites; and some picnic sites. These are listed on our website. All campgrounds both inside and outside the closure area remain closed. This closure also impacts numerous dispersed areas, often used for hunting this time of year. Colorado Parks and Wildlife have information for impacted hunters available on their website.

This closure is in place for public safety and to support firefighting efforts. These areas are very popular with recreationists but also, in many cases, remote. Roads and trails are greatly interconnected. If evacuations are necessary, it can be difficult to reach people and can take emergency responders a great deal of time to make sure everyone is out safely.

If you need ideas on other locations to recreate, please check our website or check with one of your other local land management agencies for opportunities. It is also important to know that the entire Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland remains under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions.

A portion of Highway 14 remains closed. Check the latest with the Colorado Department of Transportation. There are also some closures adjacent to our closure within the State Forest State Park. Rocky Mountain National Park has implemented temporary closures in the more remote northern area of the park due to the Cameron Peak Fire. The closure impacts numerous trails and wilderness campsites. Check their website at www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm for details.

If you are looking for information on the Cameron Peak Fire, please check InciWeb. Information on the Mullen Fire can be found on InciWeb as well. Larimer County Sheriff’s Office is your source for evacuation information.

-USDA-

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