Crews are continuing to fight wildfires burning in southwestern Colorado as weather conditions could complicate those efforts.
According to weather forecasts, there will be high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds, all of which spell potentially increased fire activity.
Spring Creek fire
The Spring Creek fire, burning southwest of Parachute, grew by just 7 acres overnight Sunday and is up to 37% containment, but challenges keeping the blaze at bay loom.
According to an update Monday from fire officials, the Spring Creek fire was measured at 2,932 acres as 539 firefighters continue to fight it. That is up from 2,925 acres and 25% containment on Sunday.
But fire officials anticipate potential challenges on Tuesday, when fire weather conditions are expected to worsen, including high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds. Wind gusts could reach 40 mph that day, bringing the most critical fire weather conditions to the area since June 26, when the fire grew rapidly, fire officials said.
Due to the forecast, a plan to ignite pockets of unburned dense vegetation as a mitigation measure in the northeast corner of the fire area was delayed Sunday. Firefighters are looking for hot spots inside the fire perimeter that could be reactivated with strong winds.
Meanwhile, hand crews and heavy equipment will aim to improve and expand hand and dozer lines already in place. Crews are also using a masticator, which is similar to a wood chipper, to chew up heavy vegetation and trees in an attempt to widen the fuel break. The Spring Creek fire, which was first detected June 24, is burning on Bureau of Land Management land.
No evacuations have been ordered.
Chris Mountain fire
The Chris Mountain fire, located about 12 miles west of Pagosa Springs and north of U.S. 160, continued to burn overnight, growing to 459 acres. Evacuation orders remain active in the area.
According to a Monday Facebook post, partly cloudy skies and spotty rain from passing thunderstorms Sunday kept the spread of the fire minimal, but the flames continued to spread down the West Fork Devil and main Devil Creek drainages.
On Sunday, crews completed a direct fire line along the western edge of the fire, according to a Monday news release. On Monday, 463 personnel will work to hold the line and contain the flames.
A fire line is a break in fuel for the flames, made by removing combustible materials from the fire’s path by hand or machine.
However, fire officials expect difficulties maintaining the line under Tuesday’s Red Flag Warning, due to the expected high winds and low humidity.
Evacuation orders remain in place and the fire, started by a lightning strike on June 28, remains 0% contained.
Coal Mine fire
The Coal Mine fire, burning in Archuleta County, hasn’t grown since Friday, officials announced Monday. The fire’s burn area remains at 286 acres.
According to a Monday news release from Archuleta County, the fire is 85% contained and natural barriers on the northwest side of the fire blocking the flames continue to hold.
As of 1 p.m. Monday, little smoke remains visible from hot spots inside the contained area and aircraft continue to work on securing the perimeter and reducing hot spots, the news release stated.
Only one minor injury from the fire, which sparked June 26, has been reported, officials said Monday.
According to the news release, pre-evacuation orders in place on County Road 500 and Trujillo Road are expected to be lifted Tuesday.
Arkansas Loop fire
The Arkansas Loop fire, burning on the Southern Ute Tribe reservation approximately 11.5 miles southeast of Pagosa Springs, has burned 127 acres and is 50% contained according to a July 2 update on InciWeb, an interagency incident information management system.
The site states that 85 firefighters are working in pinon-juniper habitat to secure and hold the line and put out hot spots outside the main fire perimeter. The fire was started June 27 by a lightning strike.
