GREENHORN VALLEY
As of 9:00 a.m. on October 30, the St. Charles Fire had burned 459 acres and was 23% contained. The snowfall and colder temperatures have slowed the fire’s growth and reduced the fire behavior. All of the fireline has been accessed with the exception of a small section of the NE corner that is within a rock cliff area.
The total personnel numbered 365. The fire began on October 14 from lightning. Public information can be accessed at (970) 628-0130. Email is also available at 2023.saintcharles@firenet.gov.
There are currently only six active fires in the state and the St.
Charles fire is the fourth largest.
The Lowline Fire, 11.6 miles SSW of Crested Butte, has burned 1,999 acres and is 54% contained. The Hope Fire, 17.2 miles N or Cortez, has burned 1,290 acres and is 70% contained. The Trail Springs Fire is 8.9 miles NNW of Pagosa Springs and has burned 1,250 acres. There were no containment numbers on that fire.
The other two fires were relatively small but active Just before we sent the paper to the printer, we got the following information. The Saint Charles Fire is 492 acres and 99% contained. Snowy and muddy conditions remain around much of the fire making driving and access difficult.
Equipment retrieval and fire suppression repair activities will resume today. Tasks for today include chipping of the fuels that had been removed during Fireline creation in the area of the Scout Camp off Hwy 165. Crews are performing “backhaul”, the packaging and removal of supplies and equipment from the Fireline.
Pueblo County implemented a burn ban on October 24, 2023.
Custer County initiated Stage 1 fire restrictions on October 24.
Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t.