Location: 31 miles south of Rangely
Cause: Lightning
Percent containment: 74 percent
Start Date: Sunday, July 29
Size: 5,766 acres
Resources: Approximately 441
The Type II Southwestern Area Incident Management Team 5 will transfer command of the Red Canyon Fire to a local Type III organization, led by Incident Commander Jim Andersen, on Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 6 a.m. Minimal fire behavior and increased containment will allow for a smaller, more economical organization.
Yesterday, weather conditions allowed firefighters to work directly along the edge of the fire, resulting in excellent progress toward containment. Today, crews continue to strengthen and extend containment lines; identify and mop up hot spots; repair impacts from suppression activities, and work with the incoming team to ensure a smooth transition for sustained success.
A return to hot, dry, windy weather is likely to re-kindle residual hot spots in the interior of the fire. Small amounts of smoke within the burned area should be expected for weeks to come. Firefighters will continue to manage the Red Canyon Fire until containment is achieved and hot spots are extinguished.
The Bureau of Land Management’s area closure for the Red Canyon fire area remains in effect:
- Northern border: State Highway (SH) 139/County Road (CR) 27 junction to CR27/CR28 junction
- Eastern closure: CR28/CR257 junction to CR256/CR257 junction
- Southern closure: CR256/CR257 to SH139
- Western closure: CR256/SH139 junction to SH139/CR27
Stage II Fire Restrictions went into effect Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, on BLM lands in the White River Field Office. Rio Blanco County also implemented similar restrictions. https://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/dispatch_centers/r2gjc/fireinfo_restrictions/Explanation_of_Fire_Restrictions.pdf
For continued updates:
Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pg/RioBlancoCountySheriffsOffice/reviews/
InciWeb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6064/
