Lost Solar Fire presentation at Meeker Library today

MEEKER I A presentation on the Lost Solar Fire, fire’s role in the ecosystem and the recovery of the 2002 Big Fish Fire will be given by Jim Genung, incident commander today from 7-8:30 p.m., at the Meeker Public Library, 490 Main St.
The Sept. 13 temporary closure order within the Flat Tops Wilderness is still in effect. The closure still includes portions of trails #1828 Lost Solar, #1825 Oyster Lake and #2254 Fowler Creek. Trails #1827 South Fork and #1829 Park Creek remain open.
The Lost Solar Fire is being managed out of the incident command post in Meeker by incident commander Jim Genung from the Upper Colorado River Fire Management Unit.
The fire was started by lightning within the Flat Tops Wilderness on the White River National Forest on Aug. 8.
This Wilderness fire is being managed using a “confine and contain” strategy which allows fire crews to monitor the fire from a safe distance, reducing their exposure to unnecessary risk. Other factors contributing to this decision include the remote location of the fire, the steep and rocky terrain, weather conditions and benefits to the ecosystem. The benefits of allowing fire to take its natural course within the Wilderness are many, including reducing dead and weakened trees, regenerating vegetation and improving big game and other wildlife habitat.
The size of the fire remains the same at 4,417 acres. Thirty-five personnel are assigned to the fire, including a Wildland Fire Module, a Type 3 helicopter and crew and overhead.
Fire activity was light within the interior during the first part of this week. The White River Wildland Fire Module (WFM) left spike camp yesterday and was replaced by the Unaweep WFM, who will continue monitoring the fire. Two hundred private cabins/outbuildings, etc. within the White River drainage were assessed and included in a Structure Protection Plan, which will be helpful to the White River N.F. in the event of future wildfires.
West or southwest winds continue to push smoke to the northeast, which may affect the communities of Steamboat Springs, Yampa, Taponas and Wolcott, as well as other locations in the Yampa Valley. A cold front is predicted Thursday night bringing rain or snow, which is likely to reduce fire activity significantly. Fire Personnel will assess the effect on the fire and staffing needs. The closure order will be re-assessed weekly.
For more information, call the Lost Solar Fire Information phone number: 970-456-1620, or check inciweb.nwcg.gov/ and select the incident: Lost Solar Fire.