Today, firefighters successfully burned 171 acres on Animas City Mountain in Durango, Colorado. Crews will be in place overnight, holding and monitoring the burned area. If conditions permit, firefighters plan to start ignitions in Unit 4 tomorrow.

While gusty winds are present in the City of Durango, the geologic features and vegetation in the burn area provide cover from the high winds. Firefighter and public safety are top priorities for this burn.

Smoke will be visible throughout the week. If you have questions, please call the Animas City Mountain RX phone line at 970-501-5665.

For more information, please visit InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7688/

Hoy, los bomberos quemaron con éxito 171 acres en la Montaña de la Ciudad Animas en Durango, Colorado. Las bomberos estarán en el lugar durante la noche, manteniendo y monitoreando el área quemada. Si las condiciones lo permiten, los bomberos planean iniciar los encendidos en la Unidad 4 mañana.

Mientras la ciudad de Durango podría experimentar ráfagas de viento, las características geológicas y la vegetación en el área quemada brindan protección contra los fuertes vientos.

El humo será visible durante toda la semana. Si tiene preguntas, llame a la línea telefónica de el  incendio prescribido de Montaña de la Ciudad Animas  al 970-501-5665.

Para obtener más información, visite InciWeb en https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7688/

May 8, 2023 - Evening Update – Burn operations have concluded successfully on the Cranston Restoration prescribed burn. Firefighters were able to accomplish 3 acres today. Smoke may still be visible through the night especially around highway 243.

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #CranstonRestorationPrescribedBurn

May 8, 2023, 3PM - Animas City Mountain Prescribed Burn Update

The prescribed burn is going well, and firefighters have completed the east portion of Unit 3 and continue working on the rest of Unit 3. Please do not call 911 to report the smoke. If you have any questions call the Animas City Mountain RX phone line at 970-501-5665.

May 8, 2023 - The San Bernardino National Forest (BDF) San Jacinto District will be conducting a prescribed burn today in the Cranston Reforestation area around Highway 243 between Keenwild and Saunders Meadow Rd. The Burn consists of 30-40 piles on both sides of the highway. This will occur from 9:00am to 5:00pm as weather and environmental conditions allow. Residents and visitors will see flames and smoke visible throughout the day and evening. Firefighters will be monitoring the area until all piles are extinguished.

Prescribed fire plays an important role in forest health and in reducing extreme wildfires and their negative impact. These fires also help reduce heavy fuel loads while simultaneously opening the conifer forest structure and maintaining the health of meadow habitats. Fire is also used to enhance native plant communities and cultural landscapes and improve wildlife habitats. Another goal is to provide defensible space for communities and developed areas within and surrounding the BDF. With all fire comes smoke, and the U.S. Forest Service works to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.
 

#PrescribedBurn #PrescribedFire #ForestHealth #CranstonRestorationPrescribedBurn

Se han iniciado las igniciones en el proyecto de incendios prescritos en la Montaña de la Ciudad Animas. Más de 100 bomberos están en lugar para llevar a cabo las operaciones.

El fuego de prueba de esta mañana demostró buenas condiciones para iniciar las operaciones de fuego. La vegetación brindará protección contra los vientos a nivel de la superficie de la tarde, que se pronostica que permanecerán dentro de lo prescrito y ayudarán a que el humo se eleve y se aleje de las comunidades.

Se puede encontrar más información en Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/cosjd-animas-city-mountain-prescr

Conditions are good and ignitions have started on the Animas City Mountain Prescribed Burn. Follow us on

Facebook:  @BLMMontroseFireUnit 

Twitter:  @SWD_Fire

Non-fire Drone (UAS) & Aircraft Restrictions:

To provide a safe environment for fire aviation, firefighters, and public safety. Non-fire drones (UAS) and aircraft are being restricted from Animas City Mountain area during prescribed burn operations. If you fly, our fire aviation resources can not, which could have catastrophic outcomes.

Closures:

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Temporary Closure Order COS01-23-02 in effect on Monday, May 8th, 2023, until rescinded. Temporary closure in effect within the Durango Special Recreation Management Area to all public use to provide for public safety during a planned prescribed burn on BLM managed lands including trail system within the Animas City Mountain area.

City of Durango - All trails, trailheads, and parking lots at Animas City Mountain, Dalla Mountain Park, Tanque Verde and X-Rock will be closed to public access during the prescribed fire at Animas City Mountain closure dates Monday, May 8th – Thursday, May 11th. Please respect closure to allow firefighters to focus on the project. No drones—if you fly, fire aviation resources can not.

PLEASE BE AWARE: Wildland fire engines and large equipment will continue to be on roads in the fire area and traveling to and from assignments on US Hwy 70 between Havelock and New Bern. Please slow down and use caution when driving near them.  

BLACK SWAMP ROAD CLOSED:  Fire suppression through the use of water pumping operations along Black Swamp Road within the fire footprint will involve numerous types of equipment and personnel. To ensure firefighter and public safety the Black Swamp Road will remain closed to the public by barricades. 

Weather: Southwesterly winds are expected Monday into Tuesday as high pressure shifts farther offshore. By late Tuesday, a cold front approaching from the north, will cause the wind to begin to veer westerly by the end of the day on Tuesday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible each day, with the best chances within the burn area being after nightfall on Monday and then Tuesday afternoon and evening. Minimum relative humidity values of 50-55% are expected for most of the area with peak winds around 10-15 mph and temperatures ranging from 68 to 87 degrees both days. 

Acreage: 32,400 acres; Containment: 75%; Personnel and Equipment: 210 total personnel; 2 helicopters, 10 engines, 2 Type-2 and 5 Type-3 tractor plow units, 2 track-mounted engines and 1 ambulance.  

Firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor for heat sources today. The flooding of about 1000 acres of the southeastern part of the fire is rehydrating swamp and marsh lands and eliminating heat sources allowing crews to patrol and suppress flare-ups on lands not able to be flooded.  Large volume water pumps and equipment to flood additional areas has arrived but will take several more days to be set up and operational. This will be a flooding operation along Black Swamp Road to raise the water table on lands in the southwestern part of the fire.  Needlecast continues to accumulate in the fire area creating fresh fuel that will flare up when on heat sources. Crews are patrolling and extinguishing flames and making certain needlecast does not compromise firelines.  

Air quality: Information on current air quality data for North Carolina is at https://www.airnow.gov/.   

Closures: The road closures on Forest Service Road 203 (Holston Creek Road) remains in effect.  Black Swamp Road is closed due to fire suppression equipment and personnel working along the road.   

Updates to road closures surrounding the fire are at https://drivenc.gov/.    

Firewise: Information on preparing your home and property to reduce the risk from fire can be found at https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firwise-USA  

Donations: Those interested in donating to firefighters, please consider assisting your local fire departments and /or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation https://wffoundation.org  

The BLM will begin a prescribed burn on Animas City Mountain today, Monday, May 8, 2023, starting mid-morning, if conditions allow. The prescribed burn at Animas City Mountain is a vital protective measure for the city of Durango. The BLM has coordinated with federal, state, county, and local officials in preparation to treat approximately 494 acres over the course of multiple days. Firefighting personnel will patrol the treated areas until fires are confirmed to be out.

The BLM temporary closure order is in effect May 8 within the Durango Special Recreation Management Area to all public use including trail system within Animas City Mountain until rescinded. A temporary closure is in effect for all City of Durango trails, trailheads, and parking lots at Animas City Mountain, Dalla Mountain Park, Tanque Verde, and X-Rock from May 8 to May 11. During this time, non-firefighting drones are also restricted from operation in the area.

Smoke will be visible throughout the day of a burn, mostly during the warmest part of the day. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low-lying areas. To minimize this, ignitions will end in the late afternoon to early evening.

According to the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division, “Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.” For current air quality conditions, visit www.airnow.gov.

Follow us on 

Facebook:  @BLMMontroseFireUnit 

Twitter:  @SWD_Fire

Oficina de Campo Tres Ríos, Colorado

Información: (970)501-5665

Horario de Centro de Llamadas: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Correo Electrónico: 2022.CO.ACMRX@firenet.gov

Fechas Planeadas para el Incendio Prescrito: Mayo 8 – 15, 2023

Ubicación: Tierras BLM en la Montaña de Ciudad Animas

Inciweb: Animas City Mountain Prescribed Burn: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7688/

Medios de Comunicación Social: https://www.facebook.com/BLMMontroseFireUnit

         & SWD Fire Twitter @SWD_Fire

Información Sobre la Calidad del Aire: https://www.airnow.gov/

Proyecto de Quema Prescrita:

La Oficina de Administración de Tierras (BLM) Tres Ríos ha planificado un tratamiento de incendio prescrito para hasta 494 acres en las Montañas de la Ciudad Animas en Durango, Colorado para reducir el riesgo de incendios forestales de alta intensidad, mejorar la salud de los bosques y el hábitat de la vida silvestre. Combustible (vegetación) y las condiciones climáticas deben estar dentro de un valor predeterminado “prescripción” que se sabe que produce resultados deseables. Se espera que la quemadura tome 2 – 4 días para encender con días adicional para patrullar el área y extinguir los puntos calientes.

Humo de la Quema Prescrita

El BLM tiene un permiso de humo del Departamento de Salud Pública y Calidad del Aire del Medio Ambiente de Colorado. Se instalarán varios monitores de humo dentro de la comunidad para monitorear los impactos del humo a lo largo de la quemadura. Las igniciones terminarán al final de la tarde o al anochecer, lo que reducirá los impactos del humo durante la noche, cuando el humo generalmente se deposita en los valles y drenajes. Visite airnow.gov para la calidad del aire actual.

Cierres:

Oficina de Administración de Tierras (BLM) Orden de Cierre Temporal COS01-23-02 en efecto el lunes 8 de Mayo de 2023, hasta que se rescinda. Cierre temporal en efecto dentro del Área Especial de Manejo Recreativo de Durango para todo uso público para brindar seguridad pública durante una quema prescrita planificada en terrenos administrados por BLM incluyendo sistema de senderos dentro la área de Montaña de la Ciudad Animas.

Ciudad de Durango – Todos los senderos, comienzos de senderos y estacionamientos en la Montaña de la Ciudad Animas, Dalla Mountain Park, Tanque Verde and X-Rock estarán cerrado al acceso público durante las fechas de cierre para el incendio prescrito en la Montaña de Ciudad Animas Lunes, Mayo 8 – Jueves, Mayo 11. Por favor respete los cierres para permitir que los bomberos se concentren en el proyecto. No se permiten drones, si vuelas, los recursos de aviación de fuego no pueden.

Restricciones de Drones no tripulados (UAS) y Aeronaves:

Para proporcionar un ambiente seguro a la aviación de bomberos, los bomberos y la seguridad pública. Se está restringiendo el acceso de aviones no tripulados (UAS, por sus siglas en inglés) y aeronaves en el área de la Montaña de la Ciudad Animas durante las operaciones de quema prescrita. Si vuela, nuestros recursos de aviación contra incendios no pueden volar, lo que podría tener resultados catastróficos.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE ORDER COS01-23-02

DURANGO SRMA FOR PRESCRIBED BURN

Under authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Title 43, United States Code, Section 1701, et. seq.) pursuant to Title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 9212.1(g), the following temporary closure is in effect within the Durango Special Recreation Management Area to all public use to provide for public safety during a planned prescribed burn on BLM managed lands including trail system within the Animas City Mountain area in La Plata County, Colorado.

Exemptions:

Pursuant to Title 43 CFR Section 9212.2, the following persons are exempt from this order:

• Any federal, state, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
• Persons with a BLM-issued permit specifically authorizing an otherwise prohibited act.

Penalties:

Pursuant to Title 43 CFR Section 9212.4, any person who knowingly and willfully violates the regulations of Section 9212.1 of this title shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment of not more than twelve months, or both. Restitution for total suppression or damage costs incurred will be borne by the violator.

Expect this order to go into effect any day during the period of May 8th, 2023, through May 15th, 2023, when prescribed burn operations are expected. If conditions are desirable, burning could continue for multiple days. Order will remain in force until rescinded or on November 11th, 2023, whichever event occurs first to allow for safe operations during prescribed burn.

For further information regarding the Animas City Mountain Prescribed Burn visit InciWeb page https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/news/7688/.

Prepared in Dolores, Colorado on this 7th day of May 2023.