Cow Creek Fire Update- July 3rd
Date: July 3, 2010
Firefighters have achieved 100 percent containment of the northeast, east, and southern portions of the Cow Creek Fire. Although fire activity was minimal due to the wetting rain received in the last two days, heat remains in the heavy dead and down vegetation. The western portion of the fire may continue to grow within the Park until it is determined to be a threat to life or property. The western flank will be monitored by air and a remote camera that will be placed on the mountain. It is important for the public to remember that although smoke may not be visible there is still active fire in the West Creek drainage.
Visitor facilities at Rocky Mountain National Park are open and operating as usual despite the Cow Creek Fire burning in the wilderness. Though most trails are open, the McGraw Ranch Road, Cow Creek Trail, North Boundary Trail and the Dunraven/North Fork Trail remain closed to the public in the interest of safety. Trail and area closures will be evaluated daily with the objective of reopening for pubic use as soon as conditions are safe.
The Rocky Mountain Type II Incident Management Team B will be transitioning the management of the fire back to Rocky Mountain National Park at 8:00 p.m. "We would like to thank the Park and community for their support of the firefighting efforts," said Incident Commander Todd Pechota. "The extraordinary cooperation between the community members and agencies made our job easier and we extend our thanks to all of you."
Continued information about this fire will be posted on www.inciweb.org
Cow Creek Fire at 903 acres and still burning
Date: June 29, 2010
Contact: Laura McConnell, 303-775-9132
Contact: Fire Information Line, 970-577-9931
 The Cow Creek fire continues to burn in remote, rugged timbered terrain of Rocky Mountain National Park. The fire is currently 903 acres. Crews continued to anchor fire lines into the black on the western and southern flanks of the fire while crews held and improved existing lines on the east flank of the fire. Moderate fire behavior with isolated torching and short range spotting is expected today.Rocky Mountain National Park is open along with most park trails. McGraw Ranch Road, Cow Creek Trail, North Boundary Trail, and the Dunraven/North Fork Trail remain closed to the public due to continued fire traffic.
Volunteer evacuations are no longer in place in communities east of the Cow Creek Fire. Residents are welcomed to go back to their homes and businesses but residents are urged to be vigilant and prepared that an evacuation may be necessary in the future.
"It is important to remember that an absence of smoke within the Park and surrounding communities does not mean an absence of fire," said Incident Commander Todd Pechota, "given the extensive dead and down trees in the fire area it is foreseeable that the Cow Creek Fire will burn in the remote wilderness until a weather event extinguishes the fire."
Further information about this fire will be posted on http://www.inciweb.org
Rocky Mountain National Park is open along with most park trails.
The Cow Creek Fire is burning in the Rocky Mountain National Park in the West Creek drainage in the North Fork area of the park. The fire is 1 mile south of Mount Dickinson and approximately 6 miles NW of Glen Haven. The fire began with a lightning strike on June 24 in steep, rugged timbered terrain. There are few beetle infested trees in the area where the fire is burning.
The Rocky Mountain Type II Incident Management Team B assumed management of the fire on Sunday, June 27th at 6:00 a.m.
Priorities consist of minimizing risks to firefighters and public, confining the fire to the West Creek drainage, as well as minimizing resource impacts on wildlife, sensitive endangered raptors, and endangered fish and toads. If it becomes necessary, plans and preparations underway for protection of individual homes and other buildings will be implemented.
From the National Forest Incident Information Center website:
Basic Information
| Incident Type |
Wildfire |
| Cause |
Lightning |
| Date of Origin |
Thursday June 24th, 2010 approx. 02:00 PM |
| Location |
4 miles west of Glen Haven, Colorado |
| Incident Commander |
Todd Pechota |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel |
237 |
| Size |
897 acres |
| Percent Contained |
10% |
| Fuels Involved |
10: Timber (litter and understory), FM10: Continuous timber, spruce-fir & lodgepole pine with heavy dead/down.
|
| Fire Behavior |
Moderate fire behavior with isolated torching and short range spotting.
|
| Significant Events |
Suppression actions are occurring on the east, south and northeast flanks of the fire where crews are anchoring to the black.
|
Outlook
| Planned Actions |
Planning is in place to develop mitigation measures to meet all Dutch Creek Guidance. Initial planning and strategies as part of a Long Term Implementation Plan (LTIP) are being developed. The LTIP will outline Management Action Points (MAP) which will guide future actions to protect values at risk and to define resource objectives.
|
| Growth Potential |
High
|
| Terrain Difficulty |
High
|
| Remarks |
Block 16,17: Only 10% of the containment objectives for the sections of the fire that are under a containment strategy have been achieved. This percentage does not account for the areas of the fire that are being monitored to meet resource objectives.
|
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions |
5 mph NW |
| Temperature |
70 degrees |
| Humidity |
26% |
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests / Pawnee National Grassland
U.S. Forest Service
2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg E
Fort Collins, CO 80526
|
