2020 Wildfire Season

[ill-advised strategy]

Kind of been expecting this.
Three Santa Fe wildland firefighters contract virus after work near Chama

I dunno, I’m surprised we haven’t seen a whole camp taken down.
I can’t remember a season where I didn’t get camp crud. Just the fact that it hasn’t been a big problem yet means people are either doing a great job of managing it or really lucky or both.

[gretch6364]

Grizzly Creek Fire from my backyard Tuesday afternoon. Started in Glenwood Canyon Monday and then jumped the river and headed south. Burning some rugged ass terrain! Seems to have mellowed overnight. Hoping for calm days ahead.

Attachment 336963

Yesterday I could see a very large smoke plume here in Basalt. This morning it is clear in that direction. Hopefully that is good news?

[Meadow Skipper]

I dunno, I’m surprised we haven’t seen a whole camp taken down.
I can’t remember a season where I didn’t get camp crud. Just the fact that it hasn’t been a big problem yet means people are either doing a great job of managing it or really lucky or both.

Large (type 1 & type 2) fire camps are just gross...or they were in my day.

[CovertM]

Yesterday I could see a very large smoke plume here in Basalt. This morning it is clear in that direction. Hopefully that is good news?

Calmed over night and smoke settled in the canyon and all through Glenwood. Expected to pick up this afternoon with high winds and continued red flag warning. We’ll see.

[SkiBall]

Eagle was clearer than Edwards last night. Weird.

[KQ]

Wasco County OR fire (Mosier Fire) smoke is choking W2.

Officials: Human-caused Mosier Creek Fire grows to 800 acres

[hawkgt]

ok, question for the fire aviation folks.

I live on the front range near an airport that stations FF aviation units in the summer. Been watching an MD87 take off / land about every couple hrs lasts couple days what I assume is fighting the Grizzly Creek fire.

I watched a vid yesterday of the MD doing the load drop with the wheels down....

Why are they down? Full flaps would not do it? Need to slow down but with more engine power? More control?

Im just a kid in an adult body and I like planes. Educate me.

[Timberridge]

ok, question for the fire aviation folks.

I live on the front range near an airport that stations FF aviation units in the summer. Been watching an MD87 take off / land about every couple hrs lasts couple days what I assume is fighting the Grizzly Creek fire.

I watched a vid yesterday of the MD doing the load drop with the wheels down....

Why are they down? Full flaps would not do it? Need to slow down but with more engine power? More control?

Im just a kid in an adult body and I like planes. Educate me.

Since KQ's a bit lax on googling today, I'll do it...

https://fireaviation.com/2017/09/16/...ing-gear-down/

[char_]

ok, question for the fire aviation folks.

I live on the front range near an airport that stations FF aviation units in the summer. Been watching an MD87 take off / land about every couple hrs lasts couple days what I assume is fighting the Grizzly Creek fire.

I watched a vid yesterday of the MD doing the load drop with the wheels down....

Why are they down? Full flaps would not do it? Need to slow down but with more engine power? More control?

Im just a kid in an adult body and I like planes. Educate me.

It is required by their FAA STC to prevent stalling.

If you are into this sort of thing check out www.fireaviation.com

[char_]

I dunno, I’m surprised we haven’t seen a whole camp taken down.
I can’t remember a season where I didn’t get camp crud. Just the fact that it hasn’t been a big problem yet means people are either doing a great job of managing it or really lucky or both.

I am under the impression that camps are very limited and most crews are spiking and self sufficient. I think the shot crews are just doing their own shopping, etc

[gretch6364]

Calmed over night and smoke settled in the canyon and all through Glenwood. Expected to pick up this afternoon with high winds and continued red flag warning. We’ll see.

Yeah....this one is not good. Now at 6,250 acres.

It was clear again in the skies this morning. Praying somehow things get under control. That is some rough land...but as it grows, it seems to be moving toward a little less rugged terrain...so maybe they can get boots on the ground?

[Meadow Skipper]

I am under the impression that camps are very limited and most crews are spiking and self sufficient. I think the shot crews are just doing their own shopping, etc

An IG of the Wyoming HS doing their own meals.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBjMesGB...d=etrmv3scvdzh

[hawkgt]

Since KQ's a bit lax on googling today, I'll do it...

https://fireaviation.com/2017/09/16/...ing-gear-down/

thanks, thats funny, was just on this site looking up the plane to confirm.

[char_]

An IG of the Wyoming HS doing their own meals.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBjMesGB...d=etrmv3scvdzh

That looks awesome.

[CovertM]

Yeah....this one is not good. Now at 6,250 acres.

It was clear again in the skies this morning. Praying somehow things get under control. That is some rough land...but as it grows, it seems to be moving toward a little less rugged terrain...so maybe they can get boots on the ground?

Yeah, they've done a good job of stopping southern and western movement towards Glenwood and down towards High Aspen Ranch/Elk Springs/Spring Valley. From my house right now it is charging north into the flattops towards Coffee Pot Road which I think is the logical fire line/stop border. We'll see.

Lots of rumors flying around about the Canyon being closed for quite some time even after the fire is under control. Need to check the integrity of the bridge structures and assess rock fall risk, which will most likely be pretty intense for sometime. That canyon was already a gauntlet.

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

Lots of rumors flying around about the Canyon being closed for quite some time even after the fire is under control. Need to check the integrity of the bridge structures and assess rock fall risk, which will most likely be pretty intense for sometime. That canyon was already a gauntlet.

Not to add to rumors but I've heard the same, they are predicting lots of damage to the rockfall-mitigation structures. If they really keep Indy closed as long as I-70 is it may actually begin to slow down around here.

[gretch6364]

And the airport is about to close down for 5 days (I think).

As long as supplies can still get in and prices don’t skyrocket...I am perfectly content with the slow down for fall...I know it hurts many in other industries and small business owners which really sucks though.

Leaf peepers season could be back to old times.


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[funkendrenchman]

And the airport is about to close down for 5 days (I think).

As long as supplies can still get in and prices don’t skyrocket...I am perfectly content with the slow down for fall...I know it hurts many in other industries and small business owners which really sucks though.

Leaf peepers season could be back to old times.


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It'd be a welcome relief. I heard that 120 private jets are scheduled to flight out this weekend. Hopefully the airport can stay open to let them out.

[CovertM]

And the airport is about to close down for 5 days (I think).

As long as supplies can still get in and prices don’t skyrocket...I am perfectly content with the slow down for fall...I know it hurts many in other industries and small business owners which really sucks though.

Leaf peepers season could be back to old times.


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Construction buddies today alluded to a supply shortage and lead times for material already being pushed back a bit.

I understand the closure of Indy Pass, but why can't they just have a sheriff/Camera at both gates and automatically give tickets to any truck even trying to access the pass? Increase the fine amount and possibly invoke another penalty/charge. Seems silly to think they will get it closed as long as the canyon if the canyon is potentially closed till Oct./Nov.

Also, another fire just blew up in the No Name drainage and seems to be heading south and possibly west. Most air support just started heading that way. The winds are ripping up at my house (up near Sunlight) and can only imagine they are doing the same down there.

[gretch6364]

Conditions are prime for big fires right now. I bet this one was started by a cigarette butt. It started in between the highways I think?

We have another fire that just started near Walden I am hearing?


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[Meadow Skipper]

Conditions are prime for big fires right now.

Yep. Grand Junction fire weather forecast for today:

WWUS85 KGJT 130854
RFWGJT

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
254 AM MDT Thu Aug 13 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT TODAY FOR
GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DRY FUELS FOR COLORADO FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 200, 202, 203, AND ZONES 201 AND 205 BELOW 9000
FEET, AS WELL AS UTAH FIRE WEATHER ZONE 485...

COZ200-202-203-UTZ485-131700-
/O.CON.KGJT.FW.W.0045.200813T1700Z-200814T0200Z/
Little Snake Forecast Area-White River Forecast Area-
Lower Colorado River-Eastern Ashley National Forest-
254 AM MDT Thu Aug 13 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND
DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 485...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Colorado, Fire Weather Zone 200 Little
Snake Forecast Area, Fire Weather Zone 202 White River
Forecast Area and Fire Weather Zone 203 Lower Colorado River.
In Utah, Fire Weather Zone 485 Eastern Ashley National Forest.

* WINDS...Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts 25 to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...6 to 11 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for the rapid ignition,
growth and spread of fires. Agricultural burning is strongly
discouraged.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$

COZ201-205-131700-
/O.CON.KGJT.FW.W.0045.200813T1700Z-200814T0200Z/
Routt Forecast Area-Colorado River Headwaters-
254 AM MDT Thu Aug 13 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND
DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 205 BELOW 8500 FEET...

* AFFECTED AREA...In Colorado, Fire Weather Zone 201 Routt
Forecast Area and Fire Weather Zone 205 Colorado River
Headwaters below 9000 feet.

* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts 25 to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...8 to 13 percent.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will become favorable for the rapid
ignition, growth and spread of fires. Agricultural burning is
discouraged.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

https://www.weather.gov/bou/fire

[hatchgreenchile]

We have another fire that just started near Walden I am hearing?


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Looks like it is near Blue Lake in the Rawah, gorgeous country up there.
Fingers crossed it slows quickly.

[Rideski]

An IG of the Wyoming HS doing their own meals.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBjMesGB...d=etrmv3scvdzh

My first reaction was why are they messing with bone in meat in the field, then occurred maybe they just throw all the scraps in the fire? Seems like a lot of stinky trash if not.

[Shredhead]

I’m bummed that they are ending the Swift program. These guys have done the fire midigation in my neighborhood for years. I’m out early everyday and these guys are stoked just to be outside.


https://www.aspentimes.com/snowmass/...the-last-time/

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

I understand the closure of Indy Pass, but why can't they just have a sheriff/Camera at both gates and automatically give tickets to any truck even trying to access the pass? Increase the fine amount and possibly invoke another penalty/charge. Seems silly to think they will get it closed as long as the canyon if the canyon is potentially closed till Oct./Nov.

It does seem a bit extreme. There have been times in the past where the canyon was closed and the pass was open and we managed. It’s nice to think of the valley slowing down for a while but it will start to be a big pain if this extends much into September or even October. Let’s pray for rain.


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