East Canyon Fire - June 26, 2020 AM Update

The East Canyon Fire keeps looking better each day as the firefighters work on heat along the perimeter, and as the internal heat begins to burn out. It will be hot and dry again today with a slight potential of an isolated shower this afternoon bringing minimal precipitation. Firefighters will continue to work on heat near the perimeter and seed repaired dozer lines. The helicopter will most likely be released from the fire this afternoon. Aviation resources can always be called back to the fire if there is a need in the future. The East Canyon Fire remains at 2,905 acres and 98% contained.

East Canyon Fire – June 25 8 PM

This afternoon, an isolated storm moved over the East Canyon Fire that produced some strong wind gusts and sprinkles of moisture. The excavators were able to finish repairing the dozer lines. Firefighters worked to extinguish areas of heat close to the fire perimeter and continue to seed the repaired dozer lines.  The East Canyon fire remains at 2,905 acres and 98% contained.

 

Fire resources on the East Canyon Fire will continue to improve sections of the fire where heat remains a possible threat to the fire perimeter.
Other sections of fire line that are cold and pose no threat are being pulled back and repaired using heavy equipment and fire fighters. The amount of East Canyon Fire resources remain the same as yesterday.

Fire resources on the East Canyon Fire had a good day, despite the hot, dry conditions. The fire remains at 2,905 acres and 98% contained. The hotshot crew is working the west ridge of the fire perimeter. This area has sections that are extremely rugged and steep making it difficult to easily access areas with heat. They continue to make good progress in this difficult terrain. This is the area that is currently uncontained.

On the rest of the fire, fire resources are seeding dozer/hand lines that were used as containment lines when the fire was active and hot. The seed being used is a native blend that does well in hot and dry climates. This is the same native seed blend used to repair dozer lines on the 2012 Weber Fire, which occurred west of East Canyon Fire.  Heavy equipment was used to repair dozer lines by installing water bars and drainage.

 A Type 3 organization took command of the East Canyon Fire this morning at 0600. Fire resources assigned are 4 engines, Type 1 Hotshot crew, fire module, heavy equipment, Type 2 helicopter and overhead. Although the East Canyon fire seems quiet, there are still areas where smoke might be visible. Fire resources will continue to suppress areas of heat near the fire perimeter, repair dozer line and re-seed cooler parts of the fire.

East Canyon Fire
June 23, 2020 - 8:00 a.m.

Location: Approximately two miles southeast of Mancos, Colorado
Started: Sunday, June 14, 2020
Cause: Lightning
Fire size today: 2,905 acres
Containment: 95%
Structures Lost: 0
Ground Resources
303 firefighters total: 8 crews, 13 engines, 6 pieces of heavy equipment
Air Operations
A Type 2 helicopter and one fixed wing aircraft will assist firefighters today as needed.
Evacuation information
As of June 22 at 5:00 PM all evacuations were lifted; pre-evacuation notices remain in effect.
Closures
No closures anticipated to Highway 160. Travelers can check road status at www.COTrip.org or by calling 511 or 303-639-1111.
Temporary Flight Restriction
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_9856.html
Management
Rocky Mountain Type 2 Blue Team
 
Summary
The East Canyon Fire is now 95% contained. Only two small sections of line on the northwest flank of the fire are unsecured. There was no change in acres.Two engines patrolled the area until night and observed limited fire activity. 
As fire activity continues to slow, some crews, engines, and aircraft are being reassigned to other incidents or released. The fire will transition to a Type 3 organization on Wednesday at 6:00 AM.
Today’s Operations
Firefighters will continue to seek out and extinguish hot spots on the northwest flank of the fire.
Two excavators with thumbs will begin pulling brush back over dozer lines to assist with erosion control. 
Aircraft remain available to support firefighters as needed.
Fire Conditions and Weather
A Red Flag Warning is once again in effect from noon until 8:00 PM and critical fire weather conditions remain with high temperatures and lower relative humidity levels dominating the area. Winds will generally be out of the west/northwest with occasional gusts of 25-30 mph.

East Canyon Fire
June 22, 2020 - 8:00 a.m.

Location: Approximately two miles southeast of Mancos, Colorado
Started: Sunday, June 14, 2020
Cause: Lightning
Fire size today: 2,905 acres
Containment: 79%
Structures Lost: 0
Ground Resources
362 firefighters total: 10 crews, 15 engines, 6 pieces of heavy equipment
Air Operations
A full complement of air resources is available in the fire area, and aircraft are ordered as needed.
Evacuation information

• La Plata County: Call 970- 385-8700 or Follow @LaPlataCounty on Facebook 
• Montezuma County: Call Cortez Dispatch at 970-565-8441 or @MontezumaCountyColorado on Facebook

Closures
No closures anticipated to Highway 160. Travelers can check road status at www.COTrip.org or by calling 511 or 303-639-1111.
Temporary Flight Restriction
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_9856.html
Management
Rocky Mountain Type 2 Blue Team

Summary
Firefighters continued to make good progress on securing containment lines on the East Canyon fire. Containment is now at 79%. The north and east sides of the fire (Divisions A and E) are fully contained. There was no change in acres.
Two engines patrolled the area until night and observed limited fire activity. 
As fire activity slows down some crews, engines, and aircraft are being reassigned to other incidents or released. The fire will transition to a Type 3 organization on Wednesday at 6:00 AM. 
Today’s Operations
Firefighters will continue to seek out and extinguish hot spots on the south and west sides of the fire’s perimeter.
Firefighters have begun cleanup operations like pulling flagging and backhauling trash, and where appropriate, will begin some rehabilitation efforts. These efforts include items like building waterbars along hand line and dozer line, and eventually pulling brush back over these lines to assist with erosion control. 
Aircraft remain available to support firefighters as needed.
Fire Conditions and Weather
A Red Flag Warning is once again in effect from noon until 9:00 PM and critical fire weather conditions remain with high temperatures and lower relative humidity levels dominating the area. Winds will generally be out of the west/northwest with occasional gusts of 25-30 mph.

East Canyon Fire
June 21, 2021 - 8:00 a.m.

Location: Approximately two miles southeast of Mancos, Colorado
Started: Sunday, June 14, 2020
Cause: Lightning
Fire size today: 2,905 acres
Containment: 53%
Structures Lost: 0
Ground Resources
402 firefighters total: 12 crews, 23 engines, 6 pieces of heavy equipment
Air Operations
A full complement of air resources is available in the fire area, and aircraft are ordered as needed.
Evacuation information

• La Plata County: Call 970- 385-8700 or Follow @LaPlataCounty on Facebook 
• Montezuma County: Call Cortez Dispatch at 970-565-8441 or @MontezumaCountyColorado on Facebook

Closures
No closures anticipated to Highway 160. Travelers can check road status at www.COTrip.org or by calling 511 or 303-639-1111.
Temporary Flight Restriction
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_9856.html
Management
Rocky Mountain Type 2 Blue Team
 
Summary
Lighter winds and quieter fire behavior on Saturday allowed firefighters to increase the containment on the East Canyon fire to 53%. The fire grew by 5 acres to 2,905. New areas of containment include the northwest side that faces Highway 160 and includes two homes in the Elk Springs subdivision as well as most of the eastern side of the fire along the Cherry Creek Road.
Firefighters completed chipping operations along the Cherry Creek Road yesterday.
Eight engines patrolled the area through the night. All observed fire activity occurred within the fire perimeter. 
Today’s Operations
Two hand crews have been moved up to the northeast side of the fire perimeter to help with extinguishing hotspots and securing line. Dense oak brush in this area has slowed containment efforts.
Several hand crews will continue to work on the south and southwest sides of the fire. Crews are pulling large logs near the perimeter to more interior locations to allow them to burn out.  The public should expect to see smoke within the fire perimeter until significant rain arrives.
Aircraft remain available to support firefighters as needed. 
Fire Conditions and Weather
Critical fire weather conditions remain with high temperatures and lower relative humidity dominating the area; however, winds are expected to be in the 15-20 mph range today.

East Canyon Fire
June 20, 2020: 8:00 a.m.

Location: Approximately two miles southeast of Mancos, Colorado
Started: Sunday, June 14, 2020
Cause: Lightning
Fire size today: 2,900 acres
Containment: 21%
Structures Lost: 0 
Ground Resources
402 firefighters total: 12 crews, 23 engines, 6 pieces of heavy equipment
Air Operations
A full complement of air resources is available in the fire area, and aircraft are ordered as needed.
Evacuation information

• La Plata County: Call 970- 385-8700 or Follow @LaPlataCounty on Facebook 
• Montezuma County: Call Cortez Dispatch at 970-565-8441 or @MontezumaCountyColorado on Facebook

Closures
No closures anticipated to Highway 160. Travelers can check road status at www.COTrip.org or by calling 511 or 303-639-1111.
Temporary Flight Restriction
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_9856.html
Management
Rocky Mountain Type 2 Blue Team
 
Summary
Firefighters continue to make good progress in securing the East Canyon fire perimeter, which is now 21% contained. The largest portion of containment can be found on the east side of the fire along the Cherry Creek Road; with the new containment being on the west side near the radio towers and several homes. An infrared flight last night measured the fire at 2,900 acres.
Eight engines patrolled the area through the night. All fire activity occurred within the fire perimeter.
Today’s Operations
Firefighters will continue to work the entire perimeter of the fire today. The two key areas of concern are the north and south sides of the fire. Due to the proximity of Highway 160 and homes on the north side, firefighters continue to search out and extinguish remaining pockets of heat. The public should expect to see smoke within the fire perimeter until wetting rains arrive.
Efforts on the south side have been slowed by the limited access. For efficiency, a hotshot crew has overnighted there for several nights, reducing the time needed to access the fireline. Crews are pulling large logs near the perimeter to more interior locations to allow them to burn out.
Earlier in the week, firefighters cut large amounts of brush along the west side of Cherry Creek Road to slow the fire as it moved downhill. Rather than putting more fire on the ground, firefighters will begin chipping the brush piles today.
Fire Conditions and Weather
Critical fire weather conditions remain with high temperatures and lower relative humidity dominating the area; however, winds are expected to be in the 15-20 mph range today.

 

     
  

 

 

 

East Canyon Fire

June 19, 2020: 8:00 a.m.

 

Location: Approximately two miles southeast of Mancos, Colorado

Started: Sunday, June 14, 2020

Cause: Lightning

Fire size today: 2,860 acres

Containment: 17%

Structures Lost: 0

Ground Resources

325 firefighters total: 11 crews, 14 engines, 9 pieces of heavy equipment

Air Operations

A full complement of air resources is available in the fire area, and aircraft are ordered as needed.

Evacuation information

La Plata County:

Call 970- 385-8700 or Follow @LaPlataCounty on Facebook

Montezuma County:

Call Cortez Dispatch at 970-565-8441

Closures

Roads near the fire may be temporarily closed if smoke causes poor visibility. Be alert to changing conditions. Travelers can check road status at www.COTrip.org or by calling 511 or 303-639-1111.

Temporary Flight Restriction

A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/deta il_0_9856.html

Management

Rocky Mountain Type 2 Blue Team

  Summary

Lighter winds on Thursday allowed firefighters to make good progress in securing the fireline, which is now 17% contained. That containment can be found on the east side of the fire along the Cherry Creek Road. An infrared flight last night measured the fire at 2,860 acres.

 

Firefighters were able to tie in hand and dozer lines along the southern flank yesterday and brought a dozer line down to the Cherry Creek Road to clean up a ragged edge. A hotshot crew started on a small burnout operation leading into Cottonwood Canyon and has about 600 feet to finish up today.

 

Firefighters also located an old two-track road further south which they are prepping as a contingency line if the fire were to escape the upper dozer line.

Today’s Operations

Firefighters will continue to work the entire perimeter of the fire today; however, with forecasted winds out of the west today, the primary focus will be on securing the south end of the fire.

The westerly winds will help firefighters pinpoint unknown heat sources in the northerly divisions; however, they may be problematic on the south end in Cottonwood Canyon. These winds cause an eddying effect at the mouth of the small canyons coming down off the ridge.

Hand crews will continue to cut and remove fuel from these areas and burn out ground fuels as needed between the dozer line and the road.

Fire Conditions and Weather

A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon until 9:00 PM. An overnight inversion will create lower relative humidity today creating critical fire weather conditions. Gusty winds up to 30 mph on ridge tops are expected.