Type 3 Team, Incident Commander Scott Bovey, 142 Personnel

Overview: Some light rain fell over both fires overnight and more is in the forest for Sunday. Even with warm weather and gusty winds Friday, the Trail Springs Fire was not very active. Minimal activity was observed on Mill Creek 2.

Trail Springs Fire | Size:1250 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Lightning 

The fire was slowly backing downhill toward Devil Creek on Friday but conditions were moderate and firefighters made good progress securing fire lines in those areas where they have been directly working along the fire’s edge. Other crews continued to “mop-up” along roads and trails that were “burned-out” on Wednesday and Thursday. Burn-outs are done by thinning vegetation on the side of the road or trail closest to the fire, and then methodically using drip torches to burn some of the remaining vegetation. On this fire, a helicopter also assisted by dropping small incendiaries deeper in the forest. All that work deprives the wildfire of fuel in front of it, making it less intense and easier to contain. The burn-out connected the Trail Springs Fire to fire scar left by this summer’s Chris Mountain Fire, creating a large buffer if the fire was to move to the south or east. On the west side of the fire, also above Devil Creek, the fire continues to smolder in heavy dead trees and logs but firefighters have not engaged there because of very steep terrain and the difficulty of getting anyone out, should an injury occur.

Mill Creek 2 Fire |Size: 121 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Under Investigation

While small pockets of dead logs continue to smolder, The Mill Creek 2 Fire continues to show little activity. Firefighters remain positioned nearby and are ready to respond appropriately if fire activity picks up.

Weather:  Light rain off and on this morning, stopping by afternoon with gusty winds. More rain overnight, as much as an additional .2 of an inch.

San Juan NF Temporary Closures: An area closure is in place covering some roads and trails in or near the Trail Springs Fire area (Middle Mountain area). Details of the closure are on the Trail Springs Fire InciWeb page (link below) and the “Alerts and Notices” page of the forest website: 

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_8962.html#areas

Fire Information: 970-426-5370 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanjuannationalforest

Saint Charles Fire Update 

Saturday, October 28, 2023 – 9:00 a.m. 

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander  

Information Phone: 970-628-0130 

Email: 2023.saintcharles@firenet.gov  

Information Staffing Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Special Note:  An interactive map has been created for the Saint Charles Fire.  The map includes the current fire perimeter and pre-evacuation areas.  There is a search bar that allows users to enter an address and then a ruler that can be used to measure the distance between points.  The map can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/SaintCharlesFireInteractiveMap. 

Current Situation: The Saint Charles Fire is currently 438 acres and 10% contained.  Good progress was made yesterday in completing containment lines on the north and the contingency line to the south of the fire.  Due to diminished fire activity at night and the incoming winter weather, last night was the last full night shift. 

Division A: Containment line has been completed on the north end of the fire to the Division A/T break.  Firefighters will continue to secure and mop up the fireline to work towards full containment on this division.  This will include mopping up any hot spots that are found near the fireline and removing any burning material that could fall or roll across the line.   

Division T:  Yesterday firefighters were able to hike into this area from the end of an old two track road within the fire perimeter.  Using a combination of direct and indirect fireline to connect natural barriers, fireline has been completed from the Division A/T break south to the eastern most point of the fire in Bear Canyon.  Today firefighters will hike back into the area and continue constructing fireline to the south. 

Division D: Firefighters continue to make progress holding and improve existing firelines.  Yesterday firefighters were able to access the southern perimeter by hiking south from the end of an old two track road within the fire to begin line construction along the fire perimeter working westward.  Today firefighters will return to this area to continue working to tie existing fireline together.  Lines will need to be strengthened and improved before full containment is achieved. 

Division K: The contingency line has been completed to the Division T break.  Mastication and chipping of brush that was removed along the roads and dozer line will occur in the coming days as weather conditions allow. 

Structure Protection:  The Structure Protection group continued to assess and reassess structures around the fire vicinity yesterday.  In anticipation of the cold weather predicted for the next few days, firefighters will work to winterize pumps and engines to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. 

Weather,  Fuels, and Fire Behavior:  

Gusty southwesterly winds are expected today with temperatures reaching the 40s before a cold front moves through the area early this afternoon. The front will bring a blast of winter weather to the area tonight into Sunday with a substantial drop in temperatures.  As much as 4 – 7 inches of snow could fall over the fire area on Sunday.  

Evacuations, Closures, and Fire Restrictions: 

Simonson Meadows in Pueblo County and Aspen Acres, Tara J, and the San Isabel area in Custer County remain on pre-evacuation notice. To sign up for emergency alerts please visit https://www.custercounty-co.gov/ (Custer County) or https://www.pueblosheriff.com/242/Emergency-Telephone-Notification (Pueblo County). 

Pueblo County implemented a burn ban on October 24, 2023.  More information can be found at https://www.pueblosheriff.com/162/Emergency-Management. Custer County initiated Stage 1 fire restrictions on October 24, 2023.  More information can be found at https://www.custercounty-co.gov/. 

An Area Closure is in place for the fire area on the San Carlos Ranger District of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC). For additional information, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/psicc/alerts-notices. 

Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t.  For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org. 

Fire Statistics: 

Size:  438 acres  

Containment: 10% 

Total Personnel: 387 

Location: 7 Miles SW of Beulah, CO 

Reported: October 14, 2023 

Cause: lightning 

For More Information: 

  Information Phone: 970-628-0130 (public) 

                                  719-470-0459 (media) 

  Email: 2023.saintcharles@firenet.gov 

  InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/copsf-saint-charles-fire 

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/SaintCharlesFire 

  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@SaintCharlesFireInformation 

  Interactive Map:  https://tinyurl.com/SaintCharlesFireInteractiveMap 

Text Alerts: Text SaintCharlesFire to 77295. Text and data rates apply. 

An interactive map has been created for the Saint Charles Fire.  The map display can be adjusted by toggling on and off layers. You can also use the search bar to enter a specific location and the ruler to measure from that location to the edge of the fire. The map is updated as new layers are received most often once or twice daily.   Within the map there is a link to a document with instructions on how to use the map.

Oct. 27, 2023—Fire managers are tentatively planning to begin pile burning throughout the Taos Ski Valley resort area on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 29. Plans to start operations earlier this week were postponed due to a lack of precipitation. 

Precipitation is likely Sunday afternoon, falling as snow by evening, according to the latest National Weather Forecast. Current windy conditions throughout the Taos area are also forecasted to subside by Sunday morning. Fire managers will continue to consult with meteorologists and National Weather Service spot forecasts to assess changing weather conditions. 

The piles are located in the lower frontside, lower frontside steeps, Minnesota’s and parts of the backside of the resort. They represent 208 acres of fuels reduction, mostly blowdown from the December 2021 snow squall. Other piles were created from hazard tree mitigation and trail development. 

With lower ventilation rates currently forecasted, crews plan to light a portion of the piles to limit smoke impacts. Ignitions on remaining piles will continue on subsequent days as conditions allow. 

Piles currently visible along Highway 150 and the Wheeler Peak Trail are slated for burning this winter. They were created from 300 acres of thinning as part of the Highway 150 Corridor Wildland Urban Interface Project. 

Both projects are in the Enchanted Circle Landscape and support efforts of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

Order Number # 02-12-03-23-23
U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service
Pike-San Isabel National Forests &
Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands

San Carlos Ranger District
Saint Charles Fire Area Closure
 

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50, the following acts are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands within the San Carlos Ranger District, Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A. (the “Described Area”).

1. Going into or being in the Described Area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e).
2. Entering or being in Lake Isabel, including on a boat or watercraft of any kind.
36 C.F.R. § 261.58(k)
3. Being on the Described Roads. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e)
4. Being on the Described Trail. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a)

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force, in the performance of an official duty

DESCRIBED AREA

The Described Area includes National Forest System lands in Pueblo County bordered to the west by Colorado Highway 165, to the north by Colorado State Highway 78, to the east National Forest System Trail 1320, and to the south by National Forest System Road 320, as well as the body of water of Lake Isabel, located in Pueblo and Custer counties. This area is located in:
• Township 23 S; Range 69 W; Sections 23, 25, and 36 6th Principal Meridian
• Township 23 S; Range 68 W; Sections 28-33 6th PM

Trail Springs and Mill Creek 2 Fires

Update: October 27, 2023

Type 3 Team, Incident Commander Scott Bovey, 139 Personnel

 Overview: While the Trail Springs Fire has grown several hundred acres in the last 24-36 hours, much of that was planned growth and fire managers are optimistic about the work being done. Cloudy, colder weather and a chance for light rain is forecasted and will help moderate fire behavior. An area forest closure remains in effect around this fire. Minimal fire activity occurred on the Mill Creek 2 Fire again Thursday. 

Trail Springs Fire | Size:1112 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Lightning 

Firefighters working directly along the fire’s northerneastern-most edge completed fire lines to stop further spread in that area. They also completed line around a large spot fire. Other crews worked to “mop-up” along roads and trails that were “burned out” Wednesday and Thursday. Mop-up means using water and hand tools to extinguish all hot spots closest to the fire line. Much of the smoke visible Thursday was from the burn-out, done both from the air and on the ground, to further secure the northeast side of the fire. No further aerial ignitions are planned today so there should be much less smoke coming off the fire. A large heavy lift helicopter was used to cool hot spots along the West Fork of Devil Creek to prevent the fire from crossing to the west side of the creek. Some hand-ignitions may occur today to finish securing the fire lines on the east and north flanks of the fire.

Mill Creek 2 Fire |Size: 121 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Under Investigation

The Mill Creek 2 Fire has not been active over the past several days, growing only four acres in recent days. The fire has run into a rocky area with only sparse fuels available. Firefighters remain positioned nearby and are ready to respond appropriately if fire activity picks up.

Weather:  Cloudy, cooler and higher humidity with a chance for light rain overnight.

San Juan NF Temporary Closures: An area closure is in place covering some roads and trails in or near the Trail Springs Fire area (Middle Mountain area). These include NFS Roads 630, 629.B, 629B1, and 620. Details of the closure are on the Trail Springs Fire InciWeb page (link below) and the “Alerts and Notices” page of the forest website: 

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_8962.html#areas

Fire Information: 970-426-5370 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanjuannationalforest

Trail Springs and Mill Creek 2 Fires

Update: October 27, 2023

Type 3 Team, Incident Commander Scott Bovey, 139 Personnel

Overview: While the Trail Springs Fire has grown several hundred acres in the last 24-36 hours, much of that was planned growth and fire managers are optimistic about the work being done. Cloudy, colder weather and a chance for light rain is forecasted and will help moderate fire behavior. An area forest closure remains in effect around this fire. Minimal fire activity occurred on the Mill Creek 2 Fire again Thursday.

Trail Springs Fire | Size:1112 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Lightning

Firefighters working directly along the fire’s northerneastern-most edge completed fire lines to stop further spread in that area. They also completed line around a large spot fire. Other crews worked to “mop-up” along roads and trails that were “burned out” Wednesday and Thursday. Mop-up means using water and hand tools to extinguish all hot spots closest to the fire line. Much of the smoke visible Thursday was from the burn-out, done both from the air and on the ground, to further secure the northeast side of the fire. No further aerial ignitions are planned today so there should be much less smoke coming off the fire. A large heavy lift helicopter was used to cool hot spots along the West Fork of Devil Creek to prevent the fire from crossing to the west side of the creek. Some hand-ignitions may occur today to finish securing the fire lines on the east and north flanks of the fire.

Mill Creek 2 Fire |Size: 121 Acres | Containment: 0% | Cause: Under Investigation

The Mill Creek 2 Fire has not been active over the past several days, growing only four acres in recent days. The fire has run into a rocky area with only sparse fuels available. Firefighters remain positioned nearby and are ready to respond appropriately if fire activity picks up.

Weather:  Cloudy, cooler and higher humidity with a chance for light rain overnight.

San Juan NF Temporary Closures: An area closure is in place covering some roads and trails in or near the Trail Springs Fire area (Middle Mountain area). These include NFS Roads 630, 629.B, 629B1, and 620. Details of the closure are on the Trail Springs Fire InciWeb page (link below) and the “Alerts and Notices” page of the forest website: 

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_8962.html#areas

Fire Information: 970-426-5370 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanjuannationalforest

Saint Charles Fire Update 

Friday, October 27, 2023 – 9:00 a.m. 

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander  

Information Phone: 970-628-0130 

Email: 2023.saintcharles@firenet.gov  

Information Staffing Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Current Situation: The Saint Charles Fire is currently 428 acres based on an infrared flight from last night, and containment has increased to 10%.  Infrared is used to detect areas of heat within a fire perimeter and allows fire managers to identify where heat near the fire’s edge could threaten containment efforts.  A night shift is in place and continues to patrol the fire through the night to ensure firelines hold.  

Division A: Using a combination of direct and indirect fireline and natural features, firefighters have made good progress on completing containment lines along the northern perimeter of the fire to the Division A/T break.  They will continue to secure and improve these lines to work towards containment on the north. 

Division T:  This is a new division on the east side of the fire. This portion of the fire is in steep terrain and difficult to access.  Fire managers will be scouting this area to look for potential containment opportunities that will minimize risk to firefighters and provide a high probability of success.  

Division D: Containment has been achieved on a portion of the fireline in this division.   Firefighters will continue to hold and improve existing lines and identify potential fireline locations working eastward towards the Division D/K break. 

Division K: Existing roads and dozer lines are being improved and will be used as contingency lines in the event the fire moves south towards Lower Snowslide.  Masticators will be used to remove fuels along this contingency line to create a break in vegetation and provide a defensible holding feature for firefighters. 

Structure Protection: Structure assessments have been mostly completed around the fire area.  The assessments will be put into a database and provide information about the defensibility of structures in the event the Saint Charles or future fire may threaten the area. The structure protection group has reported that the communities are well prepared if fire conditions change. 

Weather,  Fuels, and Fire Behavior:  

A cold front moved through last night bringing higher humidities and cooler temperatures to the fire area. Today 's highs will be about 10-15 degrees cooler than yesterday, with afternoon highs in the mid to low 50s. Winds are predicted to be generally southerly shifting to southeast 10-15 mph with gusts to 20 mph. Relative humidity will be substantially higher today than the last several days which will also help moderate fire behavior.  

Evacuations, Closures, and Fire Restrictions: 

Simonson Meadows in Pueblo County and Aspen Acres, Tara J, and the San Isabel area in Custer County remain on pre-evacuation notice. To sign up for emergency alerts please visit https://www.custercounty-co.gov/ (Custer County) or https://www.pueblosheriff.com/242/Emergency-Telephone-Notification (Pueblo County). 

Pueblo County implemented a burn ban on October 24, 2023.  More information can be found at https://www.pueblosheriff.com/162/Emergency-Management. Custer County initiated Stage 1 fire restrictions on October 24, 2023.  More information can be found at https://www.custercounty-co.gov/. 

An Area Closure is in place for the fire area on the San Carlos Ranger District of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC). For additional information, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/psicc/alerts-notices. 

Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t.  For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org. 

Fire Statistics: 

Size:  428 acres  

Containment: 10% 

Total Personnel: 320 

Location: 7 Miles SW of Beulah, CO 

Reported: October 14, 2023 

Cause: lightning 

For More Information: 

  Information Phone: 970-628-0130 (public) 

                                  719-470-0459 (media) 

  Email: 2023.saintcharles@firenet.gov 

  InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/copsf-saint-charles-fire 

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/SaintCharlesFire 

  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@SaintCharlesFireInformation 

  Text Alerts: Text SaintCharlesFire to 77295. Text and data rates apply. 

Saint Charles Fire Update 

Thursday, October 26, 2023 – 9:00 a.m. 

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander  

Information Phone: 970-628-0130 

Email: 2023.saintcharles@firenet.gov  

Information Staffing Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Special Note:  An InciWeb page has been created for the incident and can be accessed at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/copsf-saint-charles-fire.  In addition, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Incident Management Team and Custer County Sheriff’s Office, has established an opt-in messaging service where important information related to the Saint Charles Fire can be obtained via text message. To activate the service, text SaintCharlesFire to 77295. Text and data rates apply.  

Current Situation: Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 (RM CIMT1) assumed management responsibility of the Saint Charles Fire at 9:30 pm on October 25, 2023.  The team is one of three CIM teams in the Rocky Mountain geographic area. The team thanks the Type 3 Incident Management Team, local firefighters and law enforcement resources who have been managing the fire since it was reported. 

As a fire gets larger and additional resources are brought in, the fire is broken into geographic areas called Divisions to help focus suppression efforts and help with supervisory span of control. We use these terms in our updates to provide specific information about each part of the fire perimeter. Divisions will be shown on accompanying fire maps. 

Division A: On the north side of the fire, in Division A, firefighters will be holding and improving the existing fireline to keep the fire in check in anticipation of the Red Flag Warning today.  Fire managers are scouting the area north of the fire to look for potential containment opportunities in the event the current lines do not hold.  

Division D: On the west side of the fire, in Division D, dozer line has been put in place near San Isabel, along the Forest Service boundary, working north along the fire perimeter and tying into existing roads.  Firefighters will continue prepping this area in the event the fire pushes to the west and threatens structures or firing operations need to occur.  Along the southern perimeter in this division, firefighters will mop up hot spots and cold trail along the fire perimeter working eastward.  Cold trailing is a method of controlling an inactive fire edge by carefully inspecting and feeling the ground to detect heat.  Any hot areas that are found will be mopped up and lined to prevent fire movement.  

Division K: Along the south perimeter, in Division K, fire managers will be scouting for potential indirect control features that can be used to contain the fire.  Yesterday retardant line was put in place along the northeast, east, and southeast perimeter to help slow fire spread to the east.  This work will continue today as long as weather conditions allow. 

Structure Protection: Structure assessments are mostly completed on the east side of Highway 165 and will begin on the west side of the highway today. 

Weather,  Fuels, and Fire Behavior:  

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 11 AM to 7 PM MDT Thursday.  Westerly winds gusting up to 35 mph and relative humidity values falling into the mid-teens are likely. A change of weather pattern is expected beginning with the passage of a cold front on Friday.   

Evacuations, Closures, and Fire Restrictions: 

Simonson Meadows in Pueblo County and Aspen Acres, Tara J, and the San Isabel area in Custer County remain on pre-evacuation notice. To sign up for emergency alerts please visit https://www.custercounty-co.gov/ (Custer County) or https://www.pueblosheriff.com/242/Emergency-Telephone-Notification (Pueblo County). 

Pueblo County implemented a burn ban on October 24, 2023.  More information can be found at https://www.pueblosheriff.com/162/Emergency-Management. Custer County initiated Stage 1 fire restrictions on October 24, 2023.  More information can be found at https://www.custercounty-co.gov/. 

An Area Closure is in place for the fire area on the San Carlos Ranger District of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC). For additional information, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/psicc/alerts-notices. 

Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t.  For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org. 

Fire Statistics: 

Size:  330 acres  

Containment: 0% 

Total Personnel: 227 with more resources arriving 

Location: 7 Miles SW of Beulah, CO 

Reported: October 14, 2023 

Cause: lightning 

For More Information: 

  Information Phone: 970-628-0130 

  Email: 2023.saintcharles@firenet.gov 

  InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/copsf-saint-charles-fire 

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/SaintCharlesFire