By Caitlin Walker | [email protected]
The Colorado Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) assumed management of the 1,580-acre PL Gulch Fire burning in the Piceance Basin at 6 a.m. Friday, July 17. Operations are currently staged at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds.
Why a Type 3 Team:
IMTs are assigned when an incident exceeds the capacity of local resources to provide operational support, planning and logistics for coordinating agencies. Local and regional resources remain actively engaged in suppression efforts.
The PL Gulch Fire is located on BLM land in the Piceance Basin, just outside last year’s Lee Fire burn scar. Firefighters are evaluating homes and infrastructure in the area. The fire is burning in a landscape dotted with oil and gas wells and facilities.
Conditions & Reminders
Fuels are drought-stressed and very dry, and afternoon thunderstorms may produce gusty and erratic winds. The fire is 15% contained, with 125 personnel assigned. Engines and crews are working around all four sides of the fire with various tactics, while air resources will be used as needed.
Remember, wildfires are no-fly zones for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. More information is available at knowbeforeyoufly.org.
Briefings will be released each morning. Follow the incident’s Facebook page for fire updates and the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for road closures and evacuation notices.
Rio Blanco County residents can also sign up for the county’s emergency alert system.
IMT members will be at tonight’s Meekerpalooza to answer questions and provide incident information.
