Summit County Citizens Voice

Fire managers shifting resources to address regional threats

A June 19 NASA satellite image shows smoke plumes from several wildfires burning across the West. Photo courtesy NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team, Jeff Schmaltz.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — With nine large fires burning in Colorado, regional firefighting resources are getting reinforcements from other parts of the country.

According to regional spokesman Steve Segin, 15 crews (300 fire fighters) and 25 engines are moving into Colorado for assignment to large wildfires across state. The crews are coming from the Pacific Northwest, while the engines are en route from California.

“There are plenty of resources available nationally and we will have  everything we need as we just order them and bring them in,” Segin said via email.

According to a Twitter post from regional fire officials, the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center has moved to the highest planning level.

The Rocky Mountain Area has moved to prepardness level 5. Pl levels determine resource allocation, planning and readiness The scale is 1-5—
Steve Segin (@RMACCFireinfo) June 24, 2012

An earlier post from one of the region’s fire management units suggested that firefighting resources are near their limits:

RMACC@PL5 = area experiencing incidents w/potential to exhaust agency resources. 80% of T1/T2 IMTs/crews/other national resources committed.—
  (@MIFMU) June 24, 2012

Segin said that may have been the result of miscommunication or misinterpretation of information.

Regional wildfire information from the RMACC is here:
http://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/links/fire_info/index.html

The RMACC also reported a new fire start near Durango, where the 10- to 20-acre Bondad Hill Fire threatens an unknown number of structures and has forced the closure of the highway.

New Fire: Bondad Hill Fire 10-20 acres. South of Durango Hwy 550 closed at NM State Line. Structures threatened.—
Steve Segin (@RMACCFireinfo) June 23, 2012

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, forest fires Tagged: | Colorado, Colorado wildfires, firefighting, High Park Fire, Rocky Mountain wildfires, Waldo Canyon Fire