Incident Publication

ROAD CLOSURES: 

As of 1:53 PM on November 23, 2024:

• Lubken Canyon Road closed at Highway 395
• Tuttle Creek Road closed at Whitney Portal Road
• Horseshoe Meadow Road closed at Lubken Canyon Road

For information on Highway closures, visit CalTrans District 9 social media: www.facebook.com/Caltrans9 

Avoid the area and respect all road closures.

View area/zone information here on Genasys/Zonehaven: https://protect.genasys.com/search
Allow Genasys to share your location and pan/zoom to the area you are interested in, or input your address.

As of 11/23/24 at 1:15 p.m. the following evacuations are in place: 

Mandatory Evacuation Orders:

• Horseshoe Meadows area (Zone 223-A)
• Lubken Canyon area (Zone 195 and 197)
• Lone Pine Mobile Oasis/Foothill Trailer Park (Zone 207)
• Boulder Creek (Zone 211)

Evacuation Warnings:

• Alabama Hills area (Zone 193)

Wildfire Advisories:

• Granite View area (Zone 223-C)

An Evacuation Center has been opened at Statham Hall (138 N. Jackson Street, Lone Pine).

BRIDGE POST-FIRE BAER ASSESSMENT REPORT SUMMARY RELEASED

The Forest Service—Angeles National Forest completed a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) post-fire assessment of the Line burned area and affected watersheds to determine their response, soil conditions, potential threats, and recommended BAER emergency stabilization measures and actions on National Forest System (NFS) lands. BAER emergency treatments and activities are designed to decrease possible impacts to critical values from the burned areas during rainstorm events such as: human life and safety, property, critical natural resources, and cultural resources.

NOTE: Attached below as “Related Information” is a PDF documents called “Bridge Post-Fire BAER Assessment Report Summary_PUBLIC”.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/lox/.

LINE POST-FIRE BAER ASSESSMENT REPORT SUMMARY RELEASED

The Forest Service—San Bernardino National Forest completed a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) post-fire assessment of the Line burned area and affected watersheds to determine their response, soil conditions, potential threats, and recommended BAER emergency stabilization measures and actions on National Forest System (NFS) lands. BAER emergency treatments and activities are designed to decrease possible impacts to critical values from the burned areas during rainstorm events such as: human life and safety, property, critical natural resources, and cultural resources.

NOTE: Attached below as “Related Information” is a PDF documents called “Line Post-Fire BAER Assessment Report Summary_PUBLIC”.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events--be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/lox/.

Superior Ranger District: The Superior Ranger District plans to burn an acre of piles at the Cabin City Campground located ½  mile northeast of Cabin City.  Smoke may be visible from Cabin City. 

The Lolo National Forest will continue to conduct prescribed fire operations on the Plains/Thompson Falls and Superior Ranger Districts today, as weather and fuels conditions allow.

Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District:  Firefighters will burn up to 30 acres of piles located 11 miles west of Thompson Falls. Smoke may be visible from Highway 471.

Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will burn up to 10 acres of piles located 5 miles northwest of St. Regis near Boyd Mountain. Smoke may be visible from St. Regis and Highway 200. 

Yesterday was a successful day of prescribed fire operations across many of our districts, work will continue today, pending conditions. 

Missoula Ranger District: Fire managers plan to burn up to 45 acres of hand piles on the Granite Graves project located 2.5 miles up the Howard Creek Road.  Smoke may be visible from Highway 12. 

Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District:  Firefighters will burn up to 20 acres of piles located  3 miles northwest of Paradise. Smoke may be visible from Paradise and Highway 200.

Seeley Lake Ranger District: Firefighters will conduct up to 5 acres of piles located 11 miles north of Seeley Lake in the Alva Campground.  Smoke may be visible from Ovando and Highway 200. 

Pile Burning Plans for the Northern Front Range on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests

Release Date: Nov 12, 2024

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Nov. 12, 2024) – Fire managers on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests are preparing for pile burning season on National Forest lands on Colorado's northern Front Range. Current and forecasted weather conditions in the area may create favorable pile burning conditions over the next several months in Larimer, Boulder, Gilpin and Clear Creek counties.

Burning could begin as soon as this week in higher elevation project areas in Larimer County where adequate snow fell during recent storms. The two projects that could begin Thursday include hand piles in Devils Creek, located five miles north of the Crystal Lakes Subdivision near the intersection of Larimer County Road 80C and Forest Service Road 182, and the North Fork Campground, located at the intersection of Deadman and Pearl Beaver roads.

Pile burning is a type of prescribed fire that helps remove woody debris from the forests, reducing the potential of more impactful, unplanned fire activity at other times of the year. Pile burning helps eliminate branches, limbs, twigs and small logs that can't easily be removed through other means due to topography, access or cost feasibility. Pile burning typically follows forest thinning projects in overgrown forests.

Before burning piles, fire managers track local weather forecasts to check temperatures, snowpack conditions and wind. Snow and cooler temperatures are key tools in helping contain fire behavior while wind is an important factor in aiding smoke dispersal. Firefighters use air quality monitoring stations in areas where they plan on burning. Once burning has begun, firefighters patrol and monitor burned piles until there is no longer any heat emitted. 

Smoke, flames, and glowing embers are often visible and are a normal part of pile burning operations. Moisture, namely snow, helps contain the piles and firefighters monitor the area during and after the burn. Monitoring continues until the piles are considered out. Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority in burning operations.

Smoky conditions during the active periods of pile burning are expected. Smoke levels and the duration smoke remains in the air will be monitored and could affect the length of an active burn day. Fire managers work with the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division to reduce the impacts of smoke on the public. For more information on how fire smoke may affect your health, see the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. 

This work is part of the National Wildfire Crisis Strategy effort to reduce the impacts of unplanned, large-scale fires on watersheds, wildlife habitat, recreation and communities. Fire is a natural and important part of a healthy Colorado ecosystem. With help from the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative and our community partners, prescribed fire on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and adjacent public and private lands are helping prepare our forests for unplanned fire when it happens. 

See our interactive map for more information on specific project locations that could be burned this pile burning season. Expect lower elevation project areas to proceed later in the winter. Additional information and updates on pile burning for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests are posted on our pile burning page on InciWeb. On weeks where pile burning could occur, a newsletter will be sent out to pertinent areas. To receive these weekly pile burning newsletters for particular areas, join our email list and select the "Forest Health & Fire" list for your area.

Pile Burning Planned for Sulphur Ranger District

Release Date: Nov 1, 2024

GRANBY, Colo. (Nov. 1, 2024) – Fire managers on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests are preparing for pile burning season for Sulphur Ranger District. Current and forecasted weather conditions in Grand County may create favorable pile burning conditions over the next several months. These weather conditions have also helped lead to the lifting of Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

Pile burning is a type of prescribed fire that helps remove woody debris from the forests, reducing the potential of more impactful, unplanned fire activity at other times of the year. Pile burning helps eliminate branches, limbs, twigs and small logs that can't easily be removed through other means due to topography, access or cost feasibility. Pile burning typically follows forest thinning projects in overgrown forests.

Before burning piles, fire managers track local weather forecasts for temperatures, snowpack conditions and wind. Snow and cooler temperatures are key tools in helping contain fire behavior, and wind is an important factor in aiding smoke dispersal. Firefighters use air quality monitoring stations in areas where they plan on burning. Once burning has begun, firefighters patrol and monitor burned piles until there is no longer any heat emitted. 

Smoke, flames, and glowing embers are often visible and are a normal part of pile burning operations. Moisture, namely snow, helps contain the piles and firefighters monitor the area during and after the burn. Monitoring continues until the piles are considered out. Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority in burning operations.

Smoky conditions during the active periods of pile burning are expected. Smoke levels and duration in the air will be monitored and could affect the length of active burning on any given day as fire managers work with the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division to reduce the impacts of smoke on the public. For more information on how fire smoke may affect your health, see the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. 

Areas where pile burning could occur in Sulphur Ranger District include:

• Bearscat: 1.2 miles southeast of Horseshoe Campground (FSR 140)
• Bottle Pass: Bottle Pass between Ptarmigan and Bottle Peak
• Blue Ridge: West of County Road 50 at the Horseshoe Trailhead
• Devil’s Thumb: 1.3 miles east of Devil’s Thumb Trailhead, along trail
• Fair: Near Fair Tracts, east of Tabernash along Water Board Road (FSR 128)
• Friendship Drive: Directly east of Fraser, near Friendship Drive
• Kawland: Between Vasquez and East Elk Creeks on FSR 159, West of Winter Park Resort
• Kauffman: 1 mile south of Highway 125 and FSR 123 junction
• Ranch Creek: East of Fraser between Road 810 and the Aqueduct Road
• Shadow Mtn Village: In Grand Lake near the Shadow Mountain Picnic Area
• Snow Mountain: West of Snow Mountain Ranch
• Strawberry Fuels: 3.5 miles west of Granby, near BLM Road 2751

See our interactive map for more information on each of these project locations. This map also includes information on additional projects, active burns and recent project completions on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

Additional information and updates on pile burning for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests are posted on our pile burning page on InciWeb. On weeks were pile burning could occur, a newsletter will be sent out to pertinent areas. To receive the weekly pile burning newsletter for the Sulphur Ranger District area, join our email list and select "Forest Health & Fire: Grand County (Winter Park, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur)".

Larimer County, Canyon Lakes Ranger District - Week of Nov 19, 2024

Fire managers plan to burn piles on Canyon Lakes Ranger District in Larimer County starting as early as tomorrow, Wednesday Nov 20, if conditions allow. The potential unit planned for this week is as follows:

Roach Timber Sale Unit: Machine piles, located 1 mile south of Mountain Home, WY, along FSR 516. This location is on the far northwestern edge of Larimer County.

This is the only location currently planned for pile burning for this week. A new update will be posted next Tuesday, Nov 26, if any new units are planned for next week.