**Postponed due to weather and fuel conditions**

Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will burn piles (one acre)  at the Slowey Campground located 6.5 miles north west of Superior.  Smoke may be visible from Interstate 90. 

Prescribed fire is implemented in compliance with Montana air quality standards and coordinated with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the appropriate county health departments to minimize the impacts of smoke.

The prescribed fire operations planned for today will not be taking place in Rocky Mountain National Park due to forecasted high winds. At 6 a.m., fire managers took onsite observations, and the wind speeds measured exceeded our prescription for the burn. Burn operations only occur when weather and conditions allow. Fire managers carefully observe conditions in the days preceding and the morning of any planned burn operation. 

Prescribed fire is the planned ignition of a fire by firefighters within a predetermined set of conditions intended to achieve desired effects on a landscape. Prescribed fire is one of the most important tools used by land managers to achieve specific results on a landscape, including the reduction of fuels that could sustain an unwanted wildfire.

A range of conditions, or prescription, for each fire determines the precise environmental conditions under which it will burn to achieve specific objectives. If conditions vary outside of that prescription, ignitions may be stopped.

The primary goal of the Headquarters Unit of RMNP's Front Country Prescribed Burn is to reduce the threat of wildland fire to adjacent communities and to NPS infrastructure by reducing the amount of fuels available on the landscape.

Welder Complex Update

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Size: 840 total acres; Welder Fire - 70 acres, Railway Fire 770 acres

Containment: 100%

Start Date: March 4, 2025

Cause: Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement investigators determined the Welder Fire to be caused by Powerlines and the Railway Fire caused by a roadside start. 

The Welder Complex started on March 4th, 2025 with two separate fires, the Welder fire and the Railway Fire. These fires both began to grow quickly and were initially responded to by local fire departments. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested to provide additional assistance and brought additional fire engines, heavy equipment, and fire fighters to assist with suppressing these fires.

Yesterday: Firefighters completed containment lines yesterday and continued to patrol and mop up the perimeter of these fires. Engines worked around the edges of these fires looking for any areas of heat and extinguished those heats to remove any threats to the containment lines. The fire perimeters were also mapped more accurately and acreages updated. Full containment for the Welder Complex at end of shift yesterday.

State resources have been released and, pending any significant change in fire activity, this incident will no longer be updated.

Rocky Mountain National Park News Release

March 8, 2025
For Immediate Release
Kyle Patterson 970-586-1363

Rocky Mountain National Park Announces Plans for Prescribed Burn on Monday, March 10, 2025 If Conditions Allow  

Based upon the potential for favorable weather and fuels conditions, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are planning to conduct a prescribed burn beginning on Monday, March 10, 2025. Firefighters plan to burn approximately 50 acres of the 334-acre Headquarters Unit. This burn unit is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park, west of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and south of U.S. Highway 36. Because of the fuel type that will be burned, which include mainly grasses, heavy and prolonged smoke is not expected from this operation.  

The primary goal of the project is to reduce the threat of wildland fire to adjacent communities and NPS infrastructure by using prescribed fire to reduce the amount of fuels available in this area. When fighting the East Troublesome Fire in 2020 and the Fern Lake Fire in 2012, firefighters were able to take advantage of previous and existing prescribed fire and hazardous fuels treatment areas that provided a buffer between the fires and the town of Estes Park. Prior hazard fuels projects were instrumental in stopping both fires from crossing Bear Lake and Trail Ridge Roads.  

If conditions are favorable, ignitions are planned to occur on Monday, March 10. Firefighters will be on scene for the duration of the operation and will be patrolling the burned area. Smoke from the prescribed burn will be visible throughout the day of the burn, mostly during the warmest part of the day. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low-lying areas.  

Fire operations near the Beaver Meadows Entrance to RMNP may cause brief delays or temporary road closures. Traffic may be diverted through Fall River Entrance. Motorists should watch for fire vehicles on the roads and allow extra time for entering and exiting the park. Traffic control will be in place on U.S. Highway 36 within the burn area. Additional information will be shared on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cormp-front-country-prescribed-fire and on RMNP’s official social media channels.  
 
For the safety of visitors and firefighters, park visitors will not be allowed to stop along U.S. Highway 36 within the burn area. Visitors will also not be able to walk within the burn area.  
 
Smoke may be visible both inside and outside the park. Every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts on visitors and the adjacent community; however, some smoke is anticipated to disperse east of the park. Smoke may affect your health: For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.  
 
Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality, personnel availability and environmental regulations are continually monitored as part of any fire management operation. For more information please contact the park Information Office at (970) 586-1206.  

- NPS -
 

The Superior Ranger District will conduct pile burning March 10 to reduce the fuel loading created from Compound clean up.

Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will burn up to 5 acres of piles at the St. Regis Compound located ¾ miles northwest of St. Regis.  Smoke may be visible from St. Regis and Interstate 90. 

Prescribed fire is implemented in compliance with Montana air quality standards and coordinated with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the appropriate county health departments to minimize the impacts of smoke.

EDIT: Bartlett Springs pile burning has been postponed due to high winds. Firefighters will attempt again next week. 

WILLOWS, Calif., Mar. 7, 2025—Conditions have been ideal for prescribed fire with cool temperatures and wet weather. Dry and warmer weather returns Friday through the weekend, but an active weather pattern is in the forecast for next week. Forest fire and fuels staff will look for additional burning opportunities next week pending favorable conditions.

Beginning March 10-16 firefighters on the Upper Lake Ranger District plan to burn potentially 96 acres of piles along the roadside in the Bartlett Springs area, located northeast of North Shore communities Nice and Lucerne.

There is potential for smoke to settle in the communities of Nice, Lucerne, Glenhaven and other locations around Clear Lake. Smoke may be visible along the Hwy 20 corridor. Visibility on roads may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles.

Firefighters will be closely monitoring weather and will use wind direction, time of day and inversion levels to minimize impacts from smoke as much as possible. All prescribed fire operations are approved by Lake County Air Quality Management District before beginning ignitions, and firefighters will carefully monitor and conduct patrols throughout burning operations.

This prescribed fire is part of an effort to reduce risks from hazard trees and maintain public safety and access for both the public and emergency personnel. Standing dead trees along roadsides have been cut and piled. Burning roadside piles will reduce hazardous fuels and is a critical step to prepare sites for reforestation.

More information about Mendocino National Forest’s prescribed fire operations is available online at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/camnf-mendocino-nf-fall-2024spring-2025-prescribed-fire-projects.

Questions can be directed to Forest Public Affairs Officer, Laura Leidner, laura.leidner@usda.gov or (530) 884-4325. 

Welder Complex Update

Friday, March 7, 2025

Size: 803 total acres

Containment: 95%

Start Date: March 4, 2025

Cause: Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement investigators determined the Welder Fire to be caused by Powerlines and the Railway Fire caused by a roadside start. 

The Welder Complex started on March 4th, 2025 with two separate fires, the Welder fire and the Railway Fire. These fires both began to grow quickly and were initially responded to by local fire departments. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested to provide additional assistance and brought additional fire engines, heavy equipment, and fire fighters to assist with suppressing these fires.

Yesterday: Firefighters completed containment lines yesterday and continued to patrol and mop up the perimeter of these fires. Engines worked around the edges of these fires looking for any areas of heat and extinguished those heats to remove any threats to the containment lines. High winds continued through the day and resources were around all of the structures within the burned area and near the fires to ensure any flare up were mitigated.

Today: Fire engines from Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) will continue to patrol the perimeter of both fires and around the structures. Any areas of concern will be addressed.  

Weather and Fire Behavior: Fire weather will be more moderate today but increase tomorrow. Today, winds are expected to reach about 10mph from the southeast. Relative humidity will drop to 40-50% and reach 100% recovery overnight tonight. 

Evacuations: All evacuation orders have been lifted at this time. Please use caution as you return to your homes, areas that are within the burn scar may have damaged power lines and damaged trees that could fall from winds. Fire crews will still be working in the area so use caution as you drive around.

Damages/Injuries: There are damaged structures at this time and crews are working to evaluate and assess the level of damage and protect all structures within the burned areas. 

Closures: All road closures have been lifted at this time.

Onion Creek Fire Final Update
March 6, 2025
8:00 pm.

Size: 190 acres
Containment: 100%
Start Date: March 4, 2025
Cause: Undetermined; cause is under investigation

*This will be the final update.  

The Onion Creek Fire started on March 4th in north Hays County and was initially responded to by local fire departments. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested to provide assistance in the form of additional firefighters and heavy equipment at 4:12 pm and quickly responded. Texas A&M Forest Service is currently in unified command with local fire departments and Hays County. Crews continue to construct containment lines around the outside of the fire with bulldozers and protect structures both within the burned areas and in the path of the fire. 

This fire started during a period of extreme fire risk due to high temperatures, low humidity, and extremely high winds. These factors together all led to the possibility for fires to start and rapidly expand in size and become highly resistant to control efforts by fire department. Crews are working through these difficulties to protect the public and the structures around this wildfire. 

Initially, several roads were closed and voluntary evacuations were put into place to move members of the public away from the fire, providing safety for the public and allowing firefighters to better protect their structures. 

Planned Actions:
Crews worked to mitigate any heat and hazard trees along the fireline and in the interior. The fire will be turned over to locals for continued monitoring. 

Weather Concerns: 
The weather for the next few days is expected to be cloudy with winds out of the north/northwest between 10-15 mph with gust up to 30 mph while relative humidity levels will be 20-30%. 

Evacuations and Closures:
No evacuations or closures at this time.

Damages and Injuries:
Currently, there have been no reports of injuries from the public or first responders. No structures or critical infrastructure have been lost or are currently threatened.

Welder Complex Update

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Size: 803 total acres

Containment: 95%

Start Date: March 4, 2025

Cause: Undetermined, Under investigation

The Welder Complex started on March 4th, 2025 with two separate fires, the Welder fire and the Railway Fire. These fires both began to grow quickly and were initially responded to by local fire departments. Texas A&M Forest Service was requested to provide additional assistance and brought additional fire engines, heavy equipment, and fire fighters to assist with suppressing these fires.

Yesterday: Firefighters completed all containment lines yesterday and began to patrol and mop up the perimeter of these fires. Engines worked around the edges of these fires looking for any areas of heat and extinguished those heats to remove any threats to the containment lines. High winds continued through the day and resources were around all of the structures within the burned area and near the fires to ensure no further structure damage.

Today: Fire engines from Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) continued to patrol the perimeter of both fires and around the structures. Heavy Equipment repaired some lines to ensure minimal long-term damage to the natural resources in the area. Additionally, some resources were staged up in preparation for new fire starts around the area with continued high fire danger. 

Weather and Fire Behavior: Winds were lower today and began blowing in from the southeast. This on shore flow brought in additional moisture to the area through increased humidities that helped firefighters extinguish remaining heats in the area. Conditions will become windier tomorrow so resources plan to stay in the area to ensure these fires continue to stay in place.

Evacuations: All evacuation orders have been lifted at this time. Please use caution as you return to your homes, areas that are within the burn scar may have damaged power lines and damaged trees that could fall from winds. Fire crews will still be working in the area so use caution as you drive around.

Damages/Injuries: There are damaged structures at this time and crews are working to evaluate and assess the level of damage and protect all structures within the burned areas. There were four firefighters who received minor injuries, were treated, and returned home.

Closures: All road closures have been lifted at this time.

Fire Information 

Heather Gonzales

Texas A&M Forest Service

Email: hgonzales@tfs.tamu.edu

Phone: 361-212-9270

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/txtxs-welder-complex

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