Vegetation Fire/Golden

Per Jeffco website:

Indian Gulch Fire - Update 8:00 a.m.

As of March 23 at 8:00 a.m.: Fire remains at about 25 percent containment. No significant growth overnight despite gusts of 75 mph. The Type 1 incident management team (IMT) took over command of fire operations officially at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. Local fire crews remain involved in fighting the fire. There are 290 firefighters here in support.

Until further notice, the Golden Gate Canyon Road will be open to local traffic only. Motorists may be asked to show ID by officials at roadblocks to ensure that only local traffic passes through; other motorists will be turned away. It is still important to minimize Golden Gate Canyon Road traffic for the safety and maneuverability of fire crews stationed inside the canyon.

Residents should remain on standby in the event of evacuations.

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As of March 22 at 7:30 p.m.: Evacuated residents of Golden Gate Canyon may return to their homes beginning at 7:30 p.m. this evening.

The road will be open to local traffic only. Motorists may be asked to show ID by officials at roadblocks, to ensure that only local traffic passes through. Other motorists will be turned away. It is still important to minimize traffic in the canyon for the safety and maneuverability of fire crews stationed inside the canyon.

Residents should remain on standby in the event of evacuations.

Please see the Jefferson County Sheriff's Emergency blog for the latest updates and information.

Source

Per Jeffco website:

Indian Gulch Fire - Update 9:30 a.m.

As of March 23 at 9:30 a.m.: During the night, the wind caused the fire to burn back onto itself in places, helping to keep the fire perimeter the same size overall.

The north flank of the fire is the greatest priority right now because there is no containment on the north side yet. However, the north perimeter of the fire has not moved significantly since yesterday.

Over the course of two days, hand crews constructed a fire line from Highway 6 to Golden Gate Canyon Road (about a 2-mile stretch), on the east end of the fire. The climb for fire crews working inside the canyon is between 1,800-2,000 foot elevation. The terrain is very sloped, wooded, and rugged.

Fire and law enforcement commanders are restricting Golden Gate Canyon Road access. The road is open to emergency vehicles only until 5:00 p.m. It will be open for local residents from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at which time it will be closed once again. Thursday morning, the road is scheduled to be open to residents from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m, pending fire behavior. Residents requiring access outside of these hours must be escorted by deputies.

The latest fire map used at the crew briefing this morning is available on the Jefferson County Sheriff Emergency blog site . Please continue to check there for latest updates.

Source

Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Highway 6 temporarily closed from Hwy. 119 - Hwy 58
Highway 6 is temporarily closed from Highway 119 to Highway 58 pending a heavy water drop on the fire nearby. The closure is a precaution, in case the water drop causes a rockslide.

Source

Per Jeffco website:

Indian Gulch Fire - Update 1:30 p.m.

As of March 23 at 1:30 p.m.: Favorable weather conditions have aided fire crews as they continue to fight the Indian Gulch Fire burning less than a mile away from the Town of Golden.

Fire crews are being assisted by an air crew that is flying above the fire and observing any changes in fire behavior. The air crew can relay information about fire behavior to crews on the ground. Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft have resumed dropping water and fire retardant along the perimeter of the fire.

There are a total of 290 firefighters on the Indian Gulch Fire. Crews represent firefighters from local, State, and Federal agencies within and outside the State of Colorado. A National Incident Management Team from the Great Basin assumed command of the Indian Gulch Fire at 6 a.m. this morning.

Access to Golden Gate Canyon Road remains restricted and residents are encouraged to maintain a heightened awareness should an evacuation be ordered. Fire crews are concentrating resources on the north, northwestern corridor of the fire. “While the fire remains a few miles away from Golden Gate Canyon Drive, this is an excellent opportunity for residents to prepare their homes by creating defensible space, and themselves by putting together kits with personal belongings,” said Incident Commander Rowdy Muir.

Highway 6 is temporarily closed from Highway 119 to Highway 58 pending a heavy water drop on the fire nearby. The closure is a precaution, in case the water drop causes a rockslide.

FIRE STATISTICS at this time:

Date started: March 20, 2011; 10:15 a.m.
Acreage: 1,211
Structures Threatened: 287
Air Resources: 1 Type 1 Helicopter, 1 Type 2 Helicopter, 1 Type 3 Helicopter, 2 Single Engine Air Tankers, 1 Fixed Wing Heavy Tanker
Closures: Golden Gate Canyon Drive
Containment: 25%

Source

Per InciWeb:

Incident Overview
March 23, 2011

The Indian Gulch Fire started on March 20, 2011 in the area of Mount Galbraith, between Clear Creek Canyon and Golden Gate Canyon, 0.5 miles West of Golden, Colorado. The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain that varies from Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir on the North, Northwestern perimeter of the fire to grass and timber understory on the western, southwestern, and eastern perimeters. Two homes required structure protection with an additional 287 threatened. Firefighting efforts have been hampered since the fire began by high winds which have gusted to greater than 60 mph on March 22, 2011.

Evacuations issued on March 21, 2011 have been lifted as of March 23, 2011 and no evacuations are currently in place. Highway 6, on the Southern perimeter of the fire, and Golden Gate Canyon Drive, on the Northern perimeter, are currently closed.

A National Incident Management Team from the Great Basin assumed command of the Indian Gulch Fire at 0600 on March 23, 2011. Firefighters from local, State, and Federal fire agencies within and outside the State of Colorado are currently engaged in fighting the Indian Gulch Fire.




Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Sunday March 20th, 2011 approx. 10:15 AM
Location 0.5 miles West of Golden CO on US 6
Incident Commander Rowdy Muir

Current Situation
Total Personnel 401
Size 1,502 acres
Percent Contained 25%
Estimated Containment Date Saturday March 26th, 2011 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved 2 Timber (grass and understory). Primary fire spread is through a FM 2. Fire has also been established in a FM 10 on the north aspect of Golden Gate Canyon.

Fire Behavior Flanking, backing and occasional single tree torching. Minor spread in surface fuels. South portion of fire backing against the wind.

Significant Events Partial closure of Golden Gate Canyon road has caused problems for commuter traffic to local mountain communities. US Highway 6 closed from Junction of US 6 and State Highway 93 to Junction of US 6 and State Highway 119. Closure is in effect until further notice.


Outlook
Planned Actions Hold spread at Golden Gate Road to the North and Highway 6 to the South. Continue to line and mop up fire perimeter. Continue monitor spread to east into subdivision and burnout if necessary.

Growth Potential Medium

Terrain Difficulty Extreme

Remarks Transfer of Command occurred at 0600 from Jefferson County Type 3 Incident Management Team to Great Basin Type 1 Incident Management Team (Muir). ICP is located at Jefferson County Government Complex in Golden, CO. Acres from GPS flight at 1600 on 3/23/2011.


Current Weather
Wind Conditions 30 mph W
Temperature 50 degrees
Humidity 15%

Source

New map from InciWeb - https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ftp/InciWeb/CO ... 559-0.jpeg

US 6 closed between Highway 119 and Highway 58

http://www.9news.com/news/article/18917 ... ighway-58-

JeFFERSON COUNTY - US 6 is closed between Highway 119 and Highway 58 due to possibility of rockslides from water drops on the Indian Gulch Fire.

The Colorado Department of Transportation does not know when U.S. 6 will reopen. Alternate routes are Interstate 70 and Highway 72.

Per InciWeb:

Current Situation
Total Personnel 434
Size 1,502 acres
Percent Contained 77%
Estimated Containment Date Saturday March 26th, 2011 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved 2 Timber (grass and understory). Primary fire spread is through a FM 2. Fire has also been established in a FM 10 on the north aspect of Golden Gate Canyon.

Fire Behavior Minor surface spread by backing and flanking on slopes above US Highway 6. Burnout operations are consuming surface fuels.

Significant Events Started burnout operations along US Highway 6. Operations will assist in securing South flank of fire. This has been identified as an operational priority. Continued closure of US Highway 6 from State Highway 93 to State Highway 119. Partial closure of Golden Gate Canyon Road has been lifted.


Outlook
Planned Actions Complete burnout operations along US Highway 6 on the South flank of the fire. Continue to secure and mop up the entire fire perimeter. Mop us will continue into timber strings.

Growth Potential Low

Terrain Difficulty Extreme

Remarks Acreage change anticipated for tomorrow due to today's burnout operations.


Current Weather
Wind Conditions 30 mph W
Temperature 47 degrees
Humidity 16%

Source

Per InciWeb:

Incident: Indian Gulch Fire Wildfire
Released: 2 hrs. ago

Media Advisory


Indian Gulch Fire update, March 25, 2011


Fire crews will continue to construct fire line and secure the entire fire perimeter. The Indian Gulch Fire continues to burn on slopes above US Highway 6 that will remain closed throughout the day. Crews will extend burnout operations to the east along US Highway 6. Air resources will support ground crews as needed.

Fire crews made significant progress in fighting the Indian Gulch Fire that has burned 1502 acres in Unincorporated Jefferson County West of the City of Golden. Crews extended existing fire lines along the Southeast and Eastern perimeters of the fire to include the Northern and much of the Western perimeters. Burnout operations were conducted along US Highway 6 to assist in securing the Southern perimeter of the fire. The Indian Gulch Fire is estimated to be 77% contained. There are currently no structures threatened.

"Firefighting is a physically hard and psychologically demanding job," said Incident Commander Rowdy Muir. "The firefighters on the Indian Gulch fire have had to deal with steep slopes and unsure footing within a complex smoky environment. The success in containing the fire goes to them and we are proud of their efforts."

At the request of Incident Commander Muir some air resources available on the Indian Gulch Fire were directed to support firefighting efforts in Douglas County, Colorado where the Franktown Fire has burned 1,600 acres.

A Stage 2 Fire Ban is currently in place for all areas of unincorporated Jefferson County to include all Federal lands.

Source

New fire map - https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ftp/InciWeb/CO ... 618-0.jpeg