Combs Fire Final Update

Containment: 100%

Size: 375 acres

This morning, fire personnel reported beneficial rainfall over the Combs fire area. No fire activity or concerns were noticed. Crews monitored and patrolled the fire into the afternoon until comfortable to release resources from the fire. South flank of the fire was secured and there are no concerns of rekindle. 

Starting today through Thursday, firefighters on the Grindstone Ranger District plan to burn piles in the Letts Lake basin, potentially 20 acres pending favorable conditions. Firefighters are taking advantage of cool and wet weather conditions to burn piles in preparation of future reforestation in these units. 

Please avoid areas where burning operations will be taking place. Some smoke may be visible. People should not be alarmed as the fires are carefully monitored. Local fire and government authorities are notified prior to burn days and kept informed throughout prescribed fire operations. 

Maps of pile burn operations can be found on Inciweb under the Maps tab. 

HUGHES 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 Hughes Fire burn 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 “Hughes Post-Fire BAER Assessment Summary Report_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 and note emergency alerts issued by Los Angeles County. Current weather and emergency notifications can also be found at the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/lox/.

Combs Fire

Containment: 75%

Size: 357 acres

Cause Unknown

Last night 3/3/2025, fire crews stopped forward progression of the fire around midnight and continued to improve fire line construction where they could, but rough terrain and night conditions made it harder for effective work to be done. Crews were released from the fire at 1:30 am, after fire conditions diminished and forward progression was stopped. 

For today 2/4/2025, plan is to secure lines on the south flank of the fire due to the high northwest wind shift that the fire area experienced this morning. Aviation was requested this morning for tactical use over the fire area, but as winds got higher this morning air craft was cancelled. Drizzling was reported over the fire area this morning. Crews are going to continue mopping up and improving lines where needed. 

All roads in fire area have been reopened at this time.

Conditions permitting, the Superior Ranger District will conduct pile burning tomorrow, March 3 to reduce the fuel loading created from Compound clean up.

Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will burn up to 10 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.

Today on the Upper Lake Ranger District, firefighters will attempt up to 12 acres of pile burning in the North Shore project, pending favorable conditions. The unit is located above High Valley Ridge across from the Lakeview Campground. Firefighters are taking advantage of a short break in wet weather to burn these hand piles in preparation of future tree planting. Communities in the North Shore may see smoke but should not be alarmed as prescribed fire activities are closely monitored.

Please avoid areas where prescribed fire activities are happening. Maps of pile burn operations can be found on Inciweb under the Maps tab. 

Today on the Grindstone Ranger District, firefighters will attempt burning up to 52 acres of piles along the M5 Road and at administrative sites, Paskenta Station and Stonyford Station. Pending favorable conditions, firefighters will continue pile burning tomorrow in units along the M5 Road.

Firefighters on the Upper Lake District have completed 42 acres of pile burning along the M1 Road since last week. The district is looking at additional burning opportunities next week in the North Shore project area.

Please avoid areas where prescribed fire activities are happening. Maps of pile burn operations can be found on Inciweb under the Maps tab. 

Operations may begin in February, weather and resource dependent
Bayfield, Colo., Feb. 14, 2025 —The Columbine Ranger District is planning to burn 4,150 acres in the HD mountains of the San Juan National Forest. From the town of Bayfield, the project areas are approximately six miles (Yellow Jacket units) east and 12 miles southeast (Little Bull and Piedra units). Operations may begin as soon as February and may continue into May, depending on weather conditions and availability of fire personnel and other resources.

Ignitions will take place over several consecutive days and operations may take several weeks to complete. Burning operations will be conducted by district personnel and other fire resources from the Forest Service and partner agencies, using both ground and aerial ignition. These burn units are part of the larger Fossett Gulch and Southern HDs Integrated Vegetation Management projects aimed at reducing hazardous ground fuels and long-term risk of catastrophic wildfire, as well as restoring ponderosa pine ecosystems, and improving wildlife habitat.

Daytime smoke is expected to travel to the north/northeast. Nighttime smoke is expected to travel downslope into the Piedra River drainage. Smoke will be heavier in the mornings following burning operations, although it will clear by mid-day. Smoke will be visible from Arboles, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, as well as the U.S. Highway 160 and 151 corridors near those towns. The forests in Southwest Colorado are part of a fire-adapted ecosystem, which has historically experienced frequent, low-intensity fires on a large scale. Prescribed fire replicates that fire regime under controlled conditions. Prescribed fires will only be ignited when all weather, fuels, and smoke requirements are met.

Learn how smoke from prescribed fire may affect your health by visiting the Colorado Department of Public Health website https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health

For more information, please contact District Assistant Fire Management Officer (fuels) Noah Daniels at noah.daniels@usda.gov.
For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website, or follow us on social media (X and Facebook).

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This week on the Upper Lake District, firefighters will attempt burning potentially up to 52 acres of piles along the M1 road pending favorable conditions. 

Maps of pile burn operations can be found on Inciweb under the Maps tab.