Read previous Plumtaw Fire stories, beginning on May 18, here.
As predicted, gusting winds swept through Archuleta County on Thursday afternoon, May 19, creating more challenging conditions for the people and aircraft working to control the two-day-old Plumtaw Fire, located seven miles north of downtown Pagosa Springs in the San Juan National Forest.
High winds not only encourage the fire to spread, but also make the work of aircraft, especially helicopters, difficult or impossible.
The following roads have been closed:
Current incident leader Brad Pietruszka fielded questions and suggestions at a 10am meeting of involved local officials and fire specialists.
A new crew is expected in town later today, to assume incident leadership — Rocky Mountain Team Two, AKA Rocky Mountain Blue Team, under the direction of Mitch Utterback.
A morning press release from PIO Brandy Richardson, San Juan National Forest:
The Plumtaw Fire is burning 7 miles north of Pagosa Springs. An evacuation notice is still in place for the Lost Valley of the San Juans, located in northern Archuleta and southern Mineral Counties, CO. No further evacuations or pre-evacuations have been ordered. For evacuation information, contact the Archuleta County Emergency Operations Call Center at 970-422-7084. The fire area is closed to the public, per closure order SJN-2022-07. The closure includes Fourmile Road (NFSR 645) at the forest boundary, Plumtaw Road (NFSR 634) from the junction of McManus Road (NFSR 633), Fourmile Trail, Anderson Trail, and Cade Mountain ATV Trail.
Yesterday, crews safely and effectively anchored and secured the line off the Fourmile Road and Plumtaw Road. Significant cloud cover helped limit fire behavior and fire retardant application on the north flank kept the fire in check. Today, critical fire weather is expected, with high temperatures, high winds and very low humidity, which may create challenges for firefighters.
Crews worked diligently throughout Wednesday’s operational period and bedded down yesterday evening to prepare for today. “Fire managers have to practice risk-based decision making and keeping our firefighters and the public safe is the number one priority,” said Incident Commander Brad Pietruszka. “Potential still exists for the fire to cross Fourmile Road, but well-rested crews are better prepared to make good, safe, and effective decisions.”
Acres burned: 735
Personnel: 184
Containment: 0%
Cost to date: $1.1 million
The San Juan National Forest will enter Stage 1 Fire Restrictions at 12:01am on Friday, May 20. More information is to come this week on fire restriction implementation.
For regular up-to-date information on the Plumtaw Fire, visit the InciWeb page: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8113/.
Here’s Brad Pietruszka, speaking to this morning’s gathering:
“735 acres, yesterday. So it still grew under those overcast conditions, about 100 acres or so…” The threat for today is wind.
Archuleta County Manager Derek Woodman encouraged the incident team to set up their temporary headquarters (tents?) at Cloman Park and the County Emergency Operations office, rather than — as is apparently planned — the County Fairgrounds. That decision will be up to the incoming incident leadership.
Archuleta County Sheriff Rich Valdez:
“One of the questions we’re getting is about the origin. How do you want us to address that? Because we’re getting that at our office.”
Brad Pietruszka:
“Yeah, we were just talking about that. We do have a couple of fire investigators; they’re up there right now, interviewing people who were there.
“There was no lightning, in a long time. There was no prescribed fire in that area, for a long time. Other than that, it’s under investigation as suspected human. That’s all we really know right now.”
Pagosa Springs Town Manager Andrea Phillips:
“I just want to make sure I understand what you’re saying. Because of the heavy wind conditions we’re anticipating over the next couple of days, that will make air-based suppression or attack really difficult? So we are anticipating growth in the mapped area of the fire?”
Mr. Pietruszka:
“Yes. Absolutely. So when the gusts are above 20 MPH above the sustained wind speed, that makes it really difficult for helicopters, especially, to be effective, because they’re just all over the place, and they’re in a really dangerous flight pattern already. So they call it, at a certain point. It’s no longer safe and no longer effective.
“So we are hitting it this morning, because the winds aren’t here yet. But throughout the day, we expect we will lose that ability.”
Ms. Phillips: “And then, be back at it, once the wind dies down…?”
Mr. Pietruszka: “Yeah.”
We received the following press release from San Juan National Forest:
San Juan National Forest Fire Management Staff are implementing Stage I Fire Restrictions on all National Forest System lands within the San Juan National Forest, including wilderness, beginning at 12:01 am on Friday, May 20th. Fire restrictions are designed to protect public safety and our area natural resources. Southwest Colorado is in extreme drought with continued hot, dry weather creating a critical fire environment. The fine for violating campfire restrictions in Stage I has been raised to $500 in Colorado.
The following are prohibited under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on the San Juan National Forest:
- Igniting, building, maintaining, or using a fire (includes fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes) outside of a permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas). $500 fine. EXCEPT: The use of a stove or grill solely fueled by liquid petroleum fuels, or a fully enclosed metal stove, grill, or sheep herder type stove with a chimney at least 5’ and a mesh screen spark arrestor.
- Smoking. Except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3’ in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials. $300 fine.
- Operating a chainsaw without an effective and properly installed USDA- or Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)- approved spark arrestor, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8 oz. capacity and rating of 2A) kept with the operator, and a round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use. $300 fine.
- Blasting, welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame without being in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and keeping a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8 oz. capacity and rating of 2A) with the operator. $300 fine.
- Using an explosive. This includes but is not limited to fuses, blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, tracers, and incendiary ammunition. $300. $500 for exploding targets.
Neighboring federal, state, and local fire managers are also entering fire restrictions. We work closely with our partners in fire prevention to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires across the landscape. Visit the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center fire restrictions page and know before you go.
Almost 90% of all wildfires on public lands are started by humans. It is every forest visitor’s responsibility to recreate responsibly and follow best practices. To report a fire call 9-1-1.
The estimated date of containment for the Plumtaw Fire is given by the San Juan National Forest as July 15.