Buffalo Peaks Weston Pass Fire

Weston Pass Fire
1 hr ago

The fire is currently at 13,019 acres and 32% contained. The winds will be shifting from a west to a northeast direction by late morning, with afternoon thunderstorms possible. Air resources will again be working hotspots around the southwest area of the fire.


Joseph Elfelt‏ @MappingSupport 4 hours ago

7/7 Saturday #WestonPassFire, Park County CO. 13,019 acres per overnight infrared analysis by fire staff. Open online map: mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=39.034..._wildland_fire_3.txt … Want map legend? Need help? Open the map then click "Map tips" upper left corner. #GeoSpatial

Weston Pass Fire
2 hrs ago

July 7, 2018 PM Update
Current acreage is 13,019; containment on the fire has increased to 34%.

Weather
Today’s thunderstorms are very isolated with no measureable precipitation. Thunderstorms are expected to continue until 11:00 PM. Sunday the weather will be similar with only 20% chance of thunderstorms. Temperatures will be in the high 70s to lower 80s with winds out of the ESE at 10 mph with gusts to 15 mph.

Current Situation
North of the fire, crews secured line along the fire edge and along the contingency line north from Rough and Tumble Creek, and west to CR 22. Surface improvements to CR 22 continue in order to repair impacts from fire suppression activities. To the east fire fighters patrolled line and completed maintenance on pumps, checked fire hose and topped off the water in the “pumpkins” in the Campground of the Rockies (CORA). Pumpkins are orange 1800 to 2400 gallon portable, collapsible tanks that are used to store water where there are no natural water sources or hydrants. Along the south edge of the fire, dozers have constructed line to the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness boundary and completed contingency line along FS 435 road to North Salt Creek Trailhead. Crews used chippers to remove brush (fuel) that was cut to improve the contingency line in Division T. The heat in the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Area and the direct fire line in Division P received water drops to reduce the possibility of fire spread. Today all divisions are identifying lines that will need rehab (returning the land to a more natural state).

See www.facebook.com/westonpassfire/videos/887203358153842/ for an aerial view of the fire with a narrative from operations and fire behavior analyst.

Information Briefing
Public Information Officers will conduct daily briefings at 2:00 PM outside at Prather’s Grocery Store, 301 US Hwy 285, Fairplay and at 3:00 PM outside at Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, 343 US 24, Buena Vista.

Closures and Public Safety
The Park Co Sheriff and CDOT have opened US Highway 285 to all traffic as of 8:00 AM today. The speed limit is posted at 50 mph and there is no stopping in the fire area. Visit www.parkco.us for up to date information. Evacuations in the CR 22 and CORA area remain in place. Evacuation status may change and evolve. For up to date information, please visit www.parkco.us . Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Area is closed until further notice.

Fire Statistics:
Location: 9 miles south of Fairplay, CO Percent Contained: 34%
Start Date: June 28, 2018
Total Personnel: Approximately 597
Size: 13,019 acres
Cause: Lightning
Resources Include: Three Type 1 hand crews, 10 Type 2 hand crews, 20 engines, one masticator, 2 dozers
Helicopters: Four Type 1, two Type 3 and two fixed wing aircraft

Weston Pass Fire Information
719-966-7842
Call Center Hours: 8 AM - 8 PM
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Incident Information: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5876/
Social Media: www.facebook.com/westonpassfire/

July 7 Morning Ops Briefing Video: www.facebook.com/westonpassfire/videos/887072848166893/


Pumpkins! Firefighters use these collapsible tanks used to store water where no natural or other water sources are available. They hold between 1800 to 2400 gallons.


K-Max maintenance check at helibase with 660 gallon bucket in the foreground.

Weston Pass Fire
31 mins ago
Here's our current fire map! Please note: All evacuations are still in place.


July 8, 2018 AM Update
Current acreage is 13,019; containment on the fire has increased to 34%.

Weather
The ridge of high pressure remains over Western Colorado but will begin to shift to the east tonight. This ridge will keep temperatures up and humidity down. Today will be mostly sunny until noon, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon. There is a slight chance for isolated showers and thunderstorms developing around 1:00 PM with 0% chance of wetting rain. Wetting rain is widespread rain that over an extended period significantly reduces fire danger. Temperatures will be in the high 70s with winds out of the ESE 5-10 mph with gusts to 15 mph. Winds near thunderstorms will be gusty and erratic, with gusts up to 30 mph. This weather will increase the likelihood over the next few days of seeing smoke from unburned fuels igniting within the perimeter of the burn area.

Current Situation
Due to the effective work of the firefighters accomplishing objectives, Divisions A and D have been combined. North of the fire, crews will patrol and improve line along the fire edge and along the contingency line north from Rough and Tumble Creek, and west to CR 22. Surface improvements to CR 22 will be completed early next week. To the east firefighters will patrol line to secure and hold the perimeter. The structure protection equipment (pumps, hose, sprinklers and pumpkins) will remain in place in the Campground of the Rockies Association until fire managers determine no threat exists. Along the fire’s south edge, dozers constructed line to the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness boundary and completed contingency line along FS 435 to North Salt Creek Trailhead. Today, they will mop up and secure this line. Crews will complete chipping brush and limbs that were removed to improve the contingency line in Division T. The Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Area and the direct fire line in Division P will receive water drops from helicopters to cool the fire line. Today a “gel” plant is being set up to assist fire suppression in and near the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Area. Gel is mixed with water and applied directly to the fire edge by helicopters. It makes water more effective and holds longer than plain water.

Information Briefing
Public Information Officers will conduct daily briefings at 2:00 PM outside at Prather’s Grocery Store, 301 US Hwy 285, Fairplay and at 3:00 PM outside at Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, 343 US 24, Buena Vista.

Closures and Public Safety
The Park Co Sheriff and CDOT have opened US Highway 285 to all traffic as of 8:00 AM yesterday. The speed limit is posted at 50 mph and there is no stopping in the fire area. Visit www.parkco.us for up to date information. Evacuations in the CR 22 and CORA area remain in place. Evacuation status may change and evolve. For up to date information, please visit www.parkco.us . Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Area is closed until further notice.

Fire Statistics:
Location: 9 miles south of Fairplay, CO Percent Contained: 34%
Start Date: June 28, 2018 Total Personnel: Approximately 578
Size: 13,019 acres Cause: Lightning
Resources Include: Three Type 1 hand crews, 10 Type 2 hand crews, 20 engines, one masticator, 2 dozers
Helicopters: Four Type 1, two Type 3 and two fixed wing aircraft

Weston Pass Fire Information
719-966-7842
Call Center Hours: 8 AM - 8 PM
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Incident Information: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5876/
Social Media: www.facebook.com/westonpassfire/
Morning Briefing video: www.facebook.com/westonpassfire/videos/888086034732241/

46 mins ago

This K-Max heavy helicopter is headed out to do bucket work. Today, fire-surpressing gel will be added to water. Look later today for more information about these superabsorbent polymer slurries. They have a consistency almost like petroleum jelly. This type of gel is also used in disposable diapers!

Weston Pass Fire
1 hr ago

July 8, 2018 PM Update

Current acreage is 13,019; containment on the fire is 52%.

Weather
This afternoon, isolated showers and thunderstorms again precipitated a warning to firefighters of cloud-to-ground lightning. Campground of the Rockies Association received wetting rain this afternoon with .12” received at Jones Hill RAWS and .32” received at a higher elevation in the Buffalo Peak Wilderness west of the fire. Temperatures reached 79° with winds out of the ESE 7-10 mph with gusts to 21 mph. This evening showers and thunderstorms will end around 7:00 PM with a minimum temperature tonight of 50°. Monday will be mostly sunny with a maximum temperature of 80°, minimum humidity of 15-20%, NW winds 3-5 mph through 10:00 PM, then SE 8-12 mph with gusts near 18 mph. No storms are expected.

This weather will increase the likelihood of seeing smoke from unburned fuels igniting within the perimeter of the burn area.

Current Situation
North of the fire, crews patrolled and improved line along the fire edge and along the contingency line north from Rough and Tumbling Creek, and west to CR 22. Surface improvements to CR 22 will be completed early this week. To the south and east, firefighters patrolled line to secure and hold the perimeter. Crews continued chipping brush and limbs that were removed to improve the contingency line in Division T. The Buffalo Peaks Wilderness area and the direct fireline in Division P received water drops from helicopters to cool the fire line. A “gel” plant was set up to enhance fire suppression efforts. Gel mixed with water will be applied directly to the fire edge by helicopters, tomorrow. This will make the water more effective.

Information Briefing
Public Information Officers will conduct daily briefings at 2:00 PM outside at Prather’s Grocery Store, 301 US Hwy 285, Fairplay and at 3:00 PM outside at Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, 343 US 24, Buena Vista.

Closures and Public Safety
The speed limit on Highway 285 is posted at 50 mph and there is no stopping in the fire area. Visit www.parkco.us for up to date information. Evacuations in the CR 22 and CORA areas remain in place. Evacuation status may change and evolve. For up to date information, please visit www.parkco.us . Buffalo Peaks Wilderness area is closed until further notice, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/psicc .

Fire Statistics:
Location: 9 miles south of Fairplay, CO Percent Contained: 52%
Start Date: June 28, 2018 Total Personnel: Approximately 572
Size: 13,019 acres Cause: Lightning
Resources Include: Three Type 1 hand crews, 10 Type 2 hand crews, 19 engines, one masticator, 2 dozers
Helicopters: Four Type 1, two Type 3 and two fixed wing aircraft

Weston Pass Fire Information
719-966-7842
Call Center Hours: 8 AM - 8 PM
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Incident Information: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5876/
Social Media: www.facebook.com/westonpassfire/


Women on wildfires??! You betcha! #Womeninwildfire serve in all capacities from Hot Shot crew members to Incident Commanders and all jobs in between.

Left, Jamie Sauer Hot Shot crew member, and right, Michelle Finch-Walker PIO downloading photos taken on the line of #westonpassfire.

Great to see progress being made! Thanks firefighters! Hope you see more rain too.

Park County Sheriff's Office
27 mins ago

At 12:00pm today 8 residents in the evacuation area south of Park County Road 22 will be allowed re-entry to the area. In order to gain entry, the residents must present a special identification card which can be obtained at the Park County Facilities Building at 1295 County Road 16 (also known as 1295 Castello), Fairplay, Colorado, during regular business hours from 7:00am to 4:00pm. Dumpsters will be located at intersection of County Road 5 and 22. IREA has restored power in that area. For any questions about this re-entry please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 719-836-4306.

From Weston Pass Fire
Weston Pass Community Update

When: Tuesday, July 10 at 6 PM MDT

Where: South Park High School
640 Hathaway St, Fairplay, Colorado 80440
Representatives of the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team, U.S. Forest Service, Park County officials, and Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, will provide an update and be available to answer questions about the Weston Pass Fire.

We checked in with the Boys & Girls Club of the High Rockies, who had been collecting donations for evacuees. They got back to us and said "over 32k bottles of water & 300+ toiletry kits" were donated (wow - thank you everyone!) so they are set and won't need anymore.

A huge thank you to all who donated - you are the best!
this community

Livestream of the Community Meeting tonight: www.facebook.com/westonpassfire/videos/890330421174469/

Some answers to questions asked by commenters:
Question: What is the cost of the fire as of today?
Answer: On the busiest days with 600 personnel, just over a million dollars/day. He doesn't have the total for the entire fire yet.

Other answers:
The dumpsters around the neighborhood are for spoiled food and the sheriff will talk with public works to determine what will be done with the brush.

CR22 is still closed in sections to repair road damage and make it safe for residents/visitors.

The plan is to have the entire fire contained, except for the little thumb in the wilderness. At least 90% contained.

The fire had resources from 27 states across the US. From Florida to Alaska!

Yes, Park County announced today that CORA will be re-opened at 7pm tonight.

As of now, fire officials are comfortable with the safety of CORA. You can always help us by being "firewise".

Answer: There will be roughly 50 personnel on the fire with the type 3 team. If more are needed, they will bring more in.

They don't expect full containment for quite sometime, due to the difficulty of fighting fire in the winderness area.

Weston Pass Fire

8 hrs ago

COMMUNITY MEETING TUESDAY JULY 10 6 PM
South Park High School gym

July 10, 2018 AM Update

Current acreage is 13,023; containment on the fire is 63%.

Weather
Today will be mostly sunny in the morning with temperatures in the high 70°s, minimum humidity 22-26% and 5-10 mph winds from the ENE gusting to 20 mph. Clouds will form in the afternoon with isolated showers and thunderstorms in the midafternoon. Winds near thunderstorms will be gusty and erratic, with gust up to 30 mph.

Current Situation
Rain on Sunday, higher humidity during the evenings and use of the gel enhanced water drops have given us advantageous conditions to fight fire. As a result, firefighters will be able to safely access the spotty fire in the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness (BPW) area.

Firefighters on the north side continue to patrol and secure line. Park County will continue to work on CR 22. On the east side, crews continue to secure and hold the perimeter. Rehab (returning the land to a more natural state) is continuing along the dozer lines. Division P will continue to secure the fireline to the BPW with the goal of increasing containment. Helicopters will be available for bucket drops to assist firefighters on the ground. Chipping operations will be completed along contingency lines on the south side of the fire. Yesterday, helicopters bucket-dropped 17,010 gallons of gel-enhanced water on the hotspots in and near the BPW. Hotshot crews on the ground used Infra-Red (IR) maps to help locate hotspots on the west side of the fire and guide bucket drops to specific locations. Crews will construct contingency line from DP 55 west to the Lynch Creek Trailhead. Hotshot crews will improve and secure the fire line from the BPW boundary to the north. Some resources will be available for initial attack in case of new fires in the area. Engines will patrol tonight to assure the fire stays within the containment line. Today, there will be a medical emergency simulation exercise for training air, medical and communication resources.

Information Briefing
Public Information Officers will conduct a daily briefing at 3:00 PM outside at Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, 343 US 24, Buena Vista. (Today will be the last day for this briefing) Everyone is invited to the Community Meeting, Tuesday, July 10, 6:00 PM, South Park High School gym in Fairplay.

Closures and Public Safety
The speed limit on Highway 285 is posted at 50 mph and there is no stopping in the fire area. Visit www.parkco.us for up to date information. Evacuations in the CORA area remain in place. Evacuation status may change and evolve. For up to date information, please visit www.parkco.us . Buffalo Peaks Wilderness area is closed until further notice; please visit www.fs.usda.gov/psicc .

Fire Statistics:
Location: 9 miles south of Fairplay, CO Percent Contained: 63%
Start Date: June 28, 2018
Total Personnel: Approximately 572
Size: 13,023 acres
Cause: Lightning
Resources Include: Three Type 1 hand crews, 10 Type 2 hand crews, 22 engines, one masticator, 2 dozers
Helicopters: Four Type 1, two Type 3 and two fixed wing aircraft

Weston Pass Fire Information
719-966-7842
Call Center Hours: 8 AM - 8 PM
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Incident Information: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5876/
Social Media: www.facebook.com/westonpassfire/

Helping "Hands Across America"

The #WestonPassFire has responders from across the United States battling the wildfire nine miles south of Fairplay, Colorado. Nearly 600 firefighters from as far away as Alaska and Florida represent 27 states. Colorado has dedicated the greatest number of resources currently numbering 140, including engine, helicopter and larger hand and hot shot crews. Other large contributors include 91 resources from Oregon, 64 from Montana and 29 from New Mexico all the way down to the tiny town of Broken Bow, Oklahoma which has contributed a single resource, Public Information Officer Michelle Finch-Walker. In the nation of wildland firefighting there are no blue or red states, they are all engaged collectively in trying to keep them green. Special thanks to Thomas Winship, a F.D.N.Y. (Fire Department New York) Firefighter for assisting with fire operations and the above data. Because nothing says wildfire like New York City

Park County Sheriff's Office
1 hr ago

Re-entry to CORA will begin today at 7:00pm. County Rd 22 is open to the public at 7:00pm. Buffalo Peaks Wilderness is closed. All Mandatory evacuations are lifted. CR22 [Black Mountain area] and CORA are on pre-evacuation status. Buffalo Peaks Wilderness is closed.

Weston Pass Fire
38 mins ago

July 12, 2018 Update
#westonpassfire

Weather
The humidity in the fire area reached a low of 11% yesterday. Today will be mostly sunny in the morning followed by mostly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms with small hail after 11:00 AM. High temperatures will range from 68°-74° with minimum low humidity of 30-36%. Winds out of the north-northeast 6-11 mph with gusts to 16 mph. Winds near thunderstorms will be gusty and erratic, with gusts up to 30 mph. Tonight will bring minimum temperatures of 47°-52°, a relative humidity of 75-80% and a 20% chance of wetting rain.

Current Situation
Fire behavior will be very limited today. The primary source of remaining heat on the fire will be heavy surface fuels and woody debris. The possibility of visible smokes from within the interior of the fire will continue. Fire personnel will continue monitoring fire behavior with lookouts and aircraft. As our objectives near completion, fire personnel and equipment are gradually being released.

Yesterday, on the north side firefighters worked some heat found in the interior. Firefighters continue to patrol the fireline. Crews will secure and hold the perimeter on the east side along HWY 285. Rehab continues along the dozer lines. Division P will secure fire perimeter from FS 168 west to Buffalo Peaks Wilderness (BPW) boundary. Hotshot crews continue to work hotspots directly and by coordinating helicopter bucket drops in and near the BPW. Contingency lines and structure protection on the south of the fire are complete; Division T is unstaffed today. Crews are constructing contingency line from DP 55 west to the Lynch Creek Trailhead. Hotshot crews will hold and secure fireline from FS 433 to the BPW. Firefighters are using the chippers to eliminate fuels along the line in Division Z. The dozer line between Division A and Z will be patrolled to determine possible containment. Structure Protection will be removing hoselays, pumps and pumpkins to back haul all fire fighting equipment. Campground of the Rockies (CORA) will be returned to pre-fire status.

Closures and Public Safety
Closures remain in effect in the Pike National Forest including the lands south of CR22, north of Trout Creek Pass, the entire BPW, and west of HWY 285. Please visit www.fs.usda.gov/psicc for more information. CR 22 is open to the public. All mandatory evacuations are lifted. CR22 [Black Mountain area] and CORA are on pre-evacuation status. Visit www.parkco.us for up to date information. The speed limit on Highway 285 is posted at 50 mph; there is no stopping in the fire area.

Fire Statistics:
Location: 9 miles south of Fairplay, CO
Percent Contained: 74%
Start Date: June 28, 2018 Total Personnel: Approximately 497
Size: 13,023 acres
Cause: Lightning
Resources Include: Three Type 1 hand crews, 7 Type 2 hand crews, 16 engines, one masticator, 2 dozers
Helicopters: Four Type 1, two Type 3 and two fixed wing aircraft

Weston Pass Fire Information
719-966-7842
Call Center Hours: 8 AM - 8 PM
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Incident Information: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5876/
Social Media: www.facebook.com/westonpassfire/

Google Pass Flyover: www.facebook.com/westonpassfire/videos/891880537686124/