Single Publication

Saint Charles Fire Update
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 – 9:00 a.m.

Information Phone: 970-628-0130
Email: 2023.saintcharles@firenet.gov
Information Staffing Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Current Situation:
The Saint Charles Fire is 492 acres and 99% contained.  Management of the fire has transitioned to a Type 4 incident management team, alongside local forest resources on the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC). Efforts are now focused on fire suppression repair, bringing landscape conditions to what they were prior to the fire.

Access to the fireline is still limited due to icy and muddy conditions on the steep terrain and areas of inaccessibility due to snowpack. Brush chippers are on-scene to disperse piles of slash (cut brush and limbs) created during line-building operations. Chipping crews completed work at the Boy Scout Camp and will begin work in Division K as the snow melts to allow access. Excavators will continue work in the Boy Scout Camp.

When it is safe to do so, heavy equipment will work to redistribute soil that was disturbed during fire suppression operations in Divisions A and D.

Weather and Fire Behavior:
Dry weather and sunny skies are expected this week. A slow warming trend will continue each day over the fire area, with maximum temperatures expected to reach or exceed 50 degrees. This pattern will melt the snowpack, except in shaded areas. 

Closures and Fire Restrictions:
An Area Closure is in place for the fire area on the San Carlos Ranger District of the PSICC. For additional information, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/psicc/alerts-notices. 

There are currently no fire restrictions in place in Pueblo and Custer Counties.

Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Fire Statistics:
Size:  492 acres 
Containment: 99%
Total Personnel: 257
Location: 7 Miles SW of Beulah, CO
Reported: October 14, 2023
Cause: lightning

For More Information:   
Information Phone: 970-628-0130 (public)
Email: 2023.saintcharles@firenet.gov 
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/copsf-saint-charles-fire 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SaintCharlesFire 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SaintCharlesFireInformation 
Interactive Map:  https://tinyurl.com/SaintCharlesFireInteractiveMap 
Text Alerts:  Text SaintCharlesFire to 77295. Text and data rates apply.