PHOTO: Crews take a deserved break after clearing oak brush under the Tri-State power line
The Chris Mountain Fire on the San Juan National Forest Pagosa Ranger District was reported on June 28 at 3:00pm. The fire is burning on Chris Mountain, located approximately 12 miles west of Pagosa Springs, north of Highway 160. The fire is burning in Ponderosa Pine and timber on National Forest System Lands and has not crossed onto private property at this time.
Latest updates are available at the Inciweb website.
Evening update, June 30:
Fire behavior has picked up some on Friday afternoon and was mapped by infrared at 347 acres. The estimated size on Thursday was 120 acres.
The fire has been backing down the Devil Creek drainage and moving slowly north. Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs), Large Air Tankers (LATs), and multiple helicopters are helping to slow the fire’s spread at the heel of the fire near private property.
Yesterday, the fire began to cross through retardant lines that were established on June 28 and reinforced June 29. Retardant is effective only when wet and when firefighters on the ground can reinforce it with hand line. Due to difficult terrain and heavy fuel loading in the Devil Creek drainage, firefighters are unable to engage the fire on the ground. In anticipation of the fire potentially crossing the creek drainage, crews are prepping contingency line and roads.
On the northeast side, three interagency hotshot crews are engaging the fire directly, digging fire containment line. Crews are also working to protect the Tri-State power line. Many resources arrived today, including bulldozers, fire engines, hand crews, and more. Fire managers anticipate making progress on the fire over the weekend.
The Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 3 will take command of the fire at 8pm. The team will provide additional capacity for all functions of fire management, including public information. Be prepared to see a significant rise in local traffic from firefighters and their support team.
Basic Information Current as of Saturday morning, July 1
Incident Type: Wildfire
Cause: Lightning
Location: Chris Mountain, Pagosa Springs
Current Situation Size: 347 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained: 0%
Fuels Involved: Ponderosa and timber
Archuleta County has issued mandatory evacuations for Forest Road 628, effective June 28, 2023. No structures have been lost, but some near the heel of the fire were considered threatened, prompting evacuations. To get current evacuation information, call the Chris Mountain Evacuees Call Center at 970-264-8373.
LPEA Update
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning for our area through Sunday due to critical fire weather conditions and critical fuels. As a result of these warnings, the La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) is taking action to ensure the safety of its members, infrastructure, surrounding communities, and environment. Specifically, LPEA has adjusted its operations to reduce the risk of our power lines contributing to forest fires. As a result of the Red Flag warning and our changed operations, some communities may experience longer and more frequent outages.
A Red Flag warning is issued when specific weather conditions, such as warm temperatures, extremely low humidities, and stronger winds, create a heightened risk of fire danger. To effectively mitigate this risk, LPEA is implementing our fire-safety protocols using new infrastructure and technology that has been installed since the 416 Fire. Our enhanced electric infrastructure is equipped to automatically detect and de-energize immediately upon contact with any potential fire hazard. This proactive measure enables us to limit the risk of fire from downed power lines by turning off the power to that line. After our technology has notified us of a downed line, we immediately mobilize line crews to physically assess the situation and ensure when it is safe to restore power.
LPEA understands that longer and more frequent outages can disrupt daily routines and activities. However, LPEA firmly believes that prioritizing safety is paramount for the well-being of its members, the protection of its infrastructure, and the protection of our member’s properties and homes.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding during these critical Red Flag days and in our change in operations to prioritize safety and to help prevent and mitigate any of our lines from causing potential forest fires,” said Jessica Matlock, CEO of LPEA.
LPEA remains committed to keeping its members informed about any developments and changes in its operations. The company will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary. Members are encouraged to stay connected with LPEA through its website.
For more information visit the LPEA outage center at lpea.coop/outage-center.