Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area Response
OtherGoose Creek
Unit Information
Rio Grande National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
1803 W. Highway 160
Monte Vista, CO 81144
Incident Contact
Gregg Goodland
Email: gregg.goodland@usda.gov
Phone: 719-588-7045
Hours: Daily 8am to 8pm
Highlighted Activity
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Initially reported on Sunday, June 28th, this lightning-caused fire is burning in the Weminuche Wilderness Area near Lake Humphreys. Several heavy and one medium-lift helicopters made hundreds of water drops between June 28th and July 2nd to effectively slow the growth of the fire. No structures are in immediate danger. However, firefighters have developed a structure protection plan for property at the Humphreys and 4UR ranches as a contingency. This structure protection plan will give firefighters critical information if another fire should threaten this valley in the future.
The fire is located in steep and rugged terrain near the top of the slope in the Goose Creek drainage. It is bounded by healthy aspen groves and rock bands and an area previously burned during the West Fork Complex in 2013. During the West Fork Complex, the fire burned when the Energy Release Component (ERC) registered in the 97th percentile. The Goose Creek Fire began when the ERC was in the 90th percentile. The ERC is a numerical value that provides insight as to how intense a wildfire will burn. The fire behavior is still characterized as creeping and smoldering.
Most resources initially assigned have been released to other fires or to return home. On July 7th the Type 3 Management Team turned over operations to a smaller, Type 4, organization. Some firefighters and support personnel will remain at Lake Humphreys to monitor the fire and take any actions, as needed and appropriate. A type 3 helicopter remains assigned to the fire and will provide reconnaissance flights and water drops as needed. The Snow Creek Wildland Fire Module from Bend, OR has arrived and will assume command of the fire later this week.
There will be no further updates unless significant activity occurs.
Basic Information
| Current as of | |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Sunday June 28th, 2020 approx. 01:00 PM |
| Location | 13 miles south of Creede, CO. |
| Incident Commander | Dave Potts IC4 |
| Coordinates | 37.654 latitude, -106.86 longitude |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 19 |
| Size | 171 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 90% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Friday July 24th, 2020 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Timber (Litter and Understory) Timber (Grass and Understory) Narrative: Snags in old burn scar, steep inaccessible terrain wilderness. |
| Significant Events | Minimal Smoldering |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Point protection remains in place. Structure protection plan will be finished, approved by IC and Agency Administrator. |
| Projected Incident Activity | 12 hours: Fire held containment lines due to moderating weather conditions overnight, and through the day winds. 24 hours: Fire may minimally increase in size, however the fire is hung up on the ridgetop and not advancing due to a decrease in fire behavior from the day before. 48 hours: Fire will be hard pressed to increase in size due to precipitation in the forecast. 72 hours: Fire should remain under 160 acres if precipitation in the forecast comes to fruition. Anticipated after 72 hours:Fire footprint will most likely remain the same. |
| Remarks | Transfer of command from IC3 to IC4 at 07:00 on 7-7-20. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns |
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