Day-um! Gunnison Valley is ablaze!

[Valkorado]

Buddy of mine just texted me this. Much too close to our home for comfort too!  Lightning caused,  8:00am strike. 750 acres last I heard and growing fast, 0% containment. Air quality warnings out.   

Watching for evacuations...

[Sweet Cheeks]

Praying they get it under control sooner rather than later.  We are in Woodland Park, so we are watching it too.  If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.

Janice

[SCain]

Pray for rain, hopefully they get it under control. I love riding in the Gunnison area, West Elk loop etc.

[0leman]

I feel for you.  Hopefully the smoke won' be too bad and they get a handle on it quickly.

We, in southern OR, have been pretty lucky so far this summer.   WE do have three active fires around us.  One on the coast that has been giving us some haze, not really heavy smoke.  It is about 24k acres.  The second one is only 25 miles to the west of us.  Thankfully the firefighters have got it mostly corralled.  It's about 2500 acres.   Took out fiber optic line between us and Lakeview (they have been without internet for over a week.  The third is north about 70 miles, it is going to take a lot of work because of ground is rugged, about 7K in size. 

Normally we have been having lots of smoke by now.  Even the weather has cooled off the last 7 days, instead of being above normal we are below.  Kind of nice

[Valkorado]

They're bringing in additional helicopters and crew, and a different manager.  I can see the choppers flying right over our house toward their drop zones.  Seems like they're toting pretty small balloons for a raging blaze, but water is heavy and they're dropping for best impact on spread and not to extinguish.  The smoke is getting thick, closed all of our windows and am running my cheap small HEPA filter.  Supposed to be gusty this afternoon with some chance for rain.  Hope we get some rain and not more lightning.  We're still clear of the pre-evacuation zones so far.

[Ice]

Seth, Stay safe my friend, hopefully they can get it contained quickly.

[Valkorado]

Got some blessed rain, and I do mean blessed this time!  Not much, but I'm hoping enough to slow the spread and give the firefighters some assistance.  Gunnison County website is still reporting 0% containment.

[Jersey mike]

Got some blessed rain, and I do mean blessed this time!  Not much, but I'm hoping enough to slow the spread and give the firefighters some assistance.  Gunnison County website is still reporting 0% containment.

I’m not a firefighter and I don’t live in an area where we’ve experienced raging forest fires so take this with that in mind but would it be beneficial to run sprinklers on your roof and around the property to keep stuff watered down and wet?

I hope you get through this and they get a handle on the blaze today. Good luck and stay safe.

[3fan4life]

Got some blessed rain, and I do mean blessed this time!  Not much, but I'm hoping enough to slow the spread and give the firefighters some assistance.  Gunnison County website is still reporting 0% containment.

I’m not a firefighter and I don’t live in an area where we’ve experienced raging forest fires so take this with that in mind but would it be beneficial to run sprinklers on your roof and around the property to keep stuff watered down and wet?

I hope you get through this and they get a handle on the blaze today. Good luck and stay safe.

It can't hurt.

But with a large fire it doesn't take long for the water to evaporate.

The best thing is to remove any combustible materials that are close to the house.

I witnessed and entire apartment building burn to the ground once because of a cigarette that was dropped into mulch.

Anything that isn't feasible to remove, saturate completely with water.

[0leman]

From the fire website, inicWeb, the fire, lowline, appears to be around 690 acres this morning.  Some lines in, but not contained.  To be contained the lines have to hold for a least one burning period.

Hopefully the fire crew will knock it down today or tomorrow.  Then the smoke won't be issue very long.  But since you apparently live east of the fire, you get to enjoy it for a while.

[Valkorado]

Our abode is located more south of the fire, just outside the current pre-evacuation lines. I'm also hopeful the crews and choppers will make some good progress today.  There is lots of dry tinder between the fire and our neighborhood.  We border the forest.

Our county website is saying 730 acres and still 0% containment this morning.  As mentioned, I've got a grab bag with some papers, etc. and a crate I can attempt to get the cat in to.  If we get a pre-evacuation I'll try to get more water on the lawn before heading out.

Update:  As of 2:40 pm Mountain time today, 803 acres consumed. 0% containment.  Some wind gusting around can't be helping things much.  Not good.  I'm happy to see the forecast for Sunday and Monday calls for 60 and 70 percent rainfall, respectively.

[0leman]

See the fire is around 800 acres this morning.  So, looks like they held it somewhat yesterday.

Have they changed the evacuation lines yet?

[Valkorado]

See the fire is around 800 acres this morning.  So, looks like they held it somewhat yesterday.

Have they changed the evacuation lines yet?

Evacuation lines are holding for now.  Just before dark last night there was an unnerving plume reaching probably 15,000 feet that appeared to be right on the edge of our hood of about 110 homes, so I checked the information before going to bed.  We would probably be next in line for evacuation, so I'm watching closely.  The smoke is thick and with no a/c it gets toasty inside during the afternoons and evenings.

[Jersey mike]

See the fire is around 800 acres this morning.  So, looks like they held it somewhat yesterday.

Have they changed the evacuation lines yet?

Evacuation lines are holding for now.  Just before dark last night there was an unnerving plume reaching probably 15,000 feet that appeared to be right on the edge of our hood of about 110 homes, so I checked the information before going to bed.  We would probably be next in line for evacuation, so I'm watching closely.  The smoke is thick and with no a/c it gets toasty inside during the afternoons and evenings.

Get outside and do a little rain dance, offer a sacrifice to the rain gods, pray for snow or whatever else you can think of to ward off or change its path.

Stay safe and I’ll pray for some heavy rain in your area.

[Valkorado]

See the fire is around 800 acres this morning.  So, looks like they held it somewhat yesterday.

Have they changed the evacuation lines yet?

Evacuation lines are holding for now.  Just before dark last night there was an unnerving plume reaching probably 15,000 feet that appeared to be right on the edge of our hood of about 110 homes, so I checked the information before going to bed.  We would probably be next in line for evacuation, so I'm watching closely.  The smoke is thick and with no a/c it gets toasty inside during the afternoons and evenings.

Is there only 1 evacuation route? If so what's plan B if the SHTF? Any rivers to go lie in?
If you have to evacuate where wwill you go?

Yep just the one route.  I'm sure hopeful the incident managers are aware of this, and will provide a reasonable heads up before the entire neighborhood gets trapped.  Of course, that doesn't always work out.  Just watching and waiting for now...

Official Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Report from 9:00 this morning here.

https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/13421/amUpdate_20230729_final_0900

As of 8:30 pm, 996 acres burned, 322 personnel fighting the fire, 7% containment.  No changes to previous evacuation orders.

[Valkorado]

Update?

As of 8:00am this morning.  

The Lowline Fire in the Ohio Creek area is currently at 1427 acres in size - There is 21% containment at this time.

We were hoping for some predicted heavy rains today, so far just a bunch of blustery wind.    We've had lots of smoke in the Valley the last few days, and not having any windows open has really sucked.  I'm thankful they've kept the fire at bay thus far, but we're still watching closely.  Hopefully they'll get it under control soon.

There's a live GMUG meeting at 6:00pm Mountain Time tonight that will be streamed here:

https://www.facebook.com/GMUGFireInfo

We plan to stream it.

[carolinarider09]

Well some positive news it seems.   

[Valkorado]

Well some positive news it seems.   

Well, not so positive. 

We're looking at a long-term fire here.  It is apparently the largest fire in the Gunnison Valley in the last 20 years.  They have plans, a great team, good coordination and optimism but of course no guarantees.  Of the group of fire managers, all emphasized that this is going last, and maybe for months.  The main concern is where the fire is creeping westward into the heavy forests of the West Elk Wilderness, where the limited road access as well as increased danger for firefighting crews will present a big challenge.  We are told to expect heavy smoke in the valley for a long period of time, and the possibility for more evacuations, ect. as well.  They are watching weather forecasts, and tomorrow is the last day for any decent chances if rains.  According to future forecasts the annual monsoons are expected to be a dud this summer.  All the speakers said this fire is here to stay for quite some time, and even many days of significant rains would not stop it at this point.  Unfortunately the month of August looks unusually dry this year.  Apparently the Feds  are stepping in big time with emergency funds and assistance, so it is a priority fire for our nation.

At least they were honest.   

The video is supposedly recorded and available to view at the site I posted above if anyone is interested.

[scooperhsd]

I got to say - I'd rather have honest assessments than someone blow false optimism at me, but I suppose at least you have something realistic to make plans / contigincies for.

Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

[Valkorado]

I got to say - I'd rather have honest assessments than someone blow false optimism at me, but I suppose at least you have something realistic to make plans / contigincies for.

Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

Agree.  The team that is in place seems well seasoned and very knowledgeable, which is somewhat comforting.  Honesty sure beats blowing smoke up our asses.  Pun intended.

[Jersey mike]

I just saw this report this morning, hoping some of that rain hit your area.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6332307230112

Stay safe.

[Bret SD]

54% containment now?

[Valkorado]

Little rain, and none in the long term forecast.  As of 9:00 this morning. 

The Lowline Fire in the Ohio Creek area is currently at 1776 acres in size - There is 54% containment at this time.

They're doing well keeping the fire behind established lines, and are saying the probability of it jumping those is low with current conditions.  As noted earlier, that wilderness area is going to be a bitch.  They keep saying their mission is quashing the fire, but in the next breath they remind us access there is difficult and the safety of the firefighting crews is foremost.  They also remind us that the burning will have ecological benefit for the forest.

To me that sounds like the wilderness burns until winter snows fall.  I hope I'm wrong.

[carolinarider09]

They also remind us that the burning will have ecological benefit for the forest.

To me that sounds like the wilderness burns until winter snows fall.  I hope I'm wrong.

Don't know about the time but if they truly said the burning will have an ecological benefit for the forest I am surprised.   But I also agree with that statement based on my own knowledge studies.

[Valkorado]

They also remind us that the burning will have ecological benefit for the forest.

To me that sounds like the wilderness burns until winter snows fall.  I hope I'm wrong.

Don't know about the time but if they truly said the burning will have an ecological benefit for the forest I am surprised.   But I also agree with that statement based on my own knowledge studies.

They say exactly that, you can find it in the town meeting video that was linked above.  It's absolutely true no doubt, and fire is a very necessary force in nature.  It's still kind of a bummer when some beautiful wilderness we've recreated in for years may burn and not recover again in my waning lifetime.

But, recover it will...

[Jersey mike]

They also remind us that the burning will have ecological benefit for the forest.

To me that sounds like the wilderness burns until winter snows fall.  I hope I'm wrong.

Don't know about the time but if they truly said the burning will have an ecological benefit for the forest I am surprised.   But I also agree with that statement based on my own knowledge studies.

They say exactly that, you can find it in the town meeting video that was linked above.  It's absolutely true no doubt, and fire is a very necessary force in nature.  It's still kind of a bummer when some beautiful wilderness we've recreated in for years may burn and not recover again in my waning lifetime.

But, recover it will...

Nature heals itself pretty quick. The fires usually fertilize and reseed.

[Bret SD]

They also remind us that the burning will have ecological benefit for the forest.

To me that sounds like the wilderness burns until winter snows fall.  I hope I'm wrong.

Don't know about the time but if they truly said the burning will have an ecological benefit for the forest I am surprised.   But I also agree with that statement based on my own knowledge studies.

They say exactly that, you can find it in the town meeting video that was linked above.  It's absolutely true no doubt, and fire is a very necessary force in nature.  It's still kind of a bummer when some beautiful wilderness we've recreated in for years may burn and not recover again in my waning lifetime.

But, recover it will...

After the fires in our area there were some sprouts of green coming within a year or two, Manzanita trees do well in fires too. After 10 years or so the vegetation comes back pretty well, also, some of the bigger trees survive and come back. It's been 20 years now and things look pretty much as they did pre-fire.
It still sucks.

[carolinarider09]

Controlled burns have been a method of controlling forest and minimizing wild fires for years. (at least this was what was taught in Dr. Lehotsky's class when I was taking his course in Forestry at Clemson in 1966).

Now, the "others" believe this aa well. 

From PBS.com

Controlled fires could actually save forests and fight climate change.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/controlled-fires-could-actually-save-forests-and-fight-climate-change/

I provide this only for more information to support what is being done in CO regarding the wildfire.

[Valkorado]

Controlled burns have been a method of controlling forest and minimizing wild fires for years. (at least this was what was taught in Dr. Lehotsky's class when I was taking his course in Forestry at Clemson in 1966).

Now, the "others" believe this aa well. 

From PBS.com

Controlled fires could actually save forests and fight climate change.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/controlled-fires-could-actually-save-forests-and-fight-climate-change/

I provide this only for more information to support what is being done in CO regarding the wildfire.

Yessir. 

I'm glad several career Forestry Management experts with decades of acquired wildfire experience are assigned to the job here.  They know what they're doing for sure.

[0leman]

Forest fires are nature way of rejuvenating a forest in the inland and Rocky Mountains areas.   Depending on the forest type, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, firs, spruces, this can take many years to get back to the pre-fire conditions.   Not sure what the forest type is in your location but could take a lot longer than yours and my lifetimes combined.  But it will come back.

When we would do a treatment to the forest, whether clearcutting or some type of thinning, we knew we would never see the forest return to the same condition.  IT was a leap of faith that we were doing the right thing. 

Yeah, we used fire as a tool.  My first controlled fire was back in the late 60's in the high country of AZ.  We would walk through the forest dropping matches as we walked in the fall.  Got left off and would walk some 3-5 miles to a prearranged pickup spot.  Good fire with a foot of less flame height.   Really helped when we did get a summertime wildfire.  Less damage. 

Around where I live now, we have had several large fires with in the last 5 years, lots of smoke.  One of the fires was over 400K acres.  The fire for the most part cleaned up a 15 year old beetle kill in lodgepole pine forest.  Not sure if the lodgepole cones are still viable.  Time will tell.  There were island of trees, not lodgepole pine, that were not killed in the fire.  They will produce seeds and over the years regenerate the area.   Time heals all wounds. 

[Valkorado]

When we would do a treatment to the forest, whether clearcutting or some type of thinning, we knew we would never see the forest return to the same condition.  IT was a leap of faith that we were doing the right thing.  

Yeah, we used fire as a tool.  My first controlled fire was back in the late 60's in the high country of AZ.  We would walk through the forest dropping matches as we walked in the fall.  Got left off and would walk some 3-5 miles to a prearranged pickup spot.  Good fire with a foot of less flame height.   Really helped when we did get a summertime wildfire.  Less damage.

Fighting fire with fire!  

They're dropping DAIDs (combustible ping-pong sized balls) from choppers here around the perimeters. The resulting flames burn at a low intensity making it easier for the ground crews to control.

[0leman]

In my younger days of fighting fires, we used drip torches or flares to start back fires.  In some cases, we would use a shovel or another tool to drag burning material to start the backfire.   There was one fire where we had two 20-man crews with each a case of fares.  We had them throw the flares as they walked along to start a backfire.  Two throwing till they ran out of flares, then the next two.  We did about 4 miles of line.  The crews had a ball.  The fire line was about 20 yards wide and close to a half a mile from the front of the fire.  Never saw the two fires come together.  Also, this was a night. 

The idea of using ping pong balls came later.  Never saw them used. 

[Valkorado]

Getting some strong winds lately, very smoky at times yesterday but apparently the fire lines held.  This lady does a pretty good job explaining what they're dealing with.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/weather/lowline-foire-1830-acres/vi-AA1eV3py?t=8

[carolinarider09]

Interesting update and the terms used were confusing at first. I knew what I thought she was say but.....  Like all "trades" there are terms and phrases that mean some very special things.

[Skinhead]

I think she cuts her own hair.

[Valkorado]

I think she cuts her own hair.

 

[Jersey mike]

How are things by you?

Stay safe.

[Valkorado]

How are things by you?

Stay safe.

Good and feeling lucky, with the realization that things could still turn for the worse.  I still think that fire may burn until winter snows extinguish it.  Cheryl went to Salida yesterday, on the other side of the Continental Divide.  She said the smoke from our fire was thick even over there.

[0leman]

IN most larger fires, they tend to let the insides burn themselves out rather than trying to mop-up the entire area.  So there will be some smoke and flames till the snows falls.

Nice of you folks sharing the smoke with other folks.