The Bull Draw Fire, burning in a remote area 12 miles northwest of Nucla, grew to 7,899 acres by Wednesday. Containment was estimated at 35 percent.
Although fire behavior was moderate on Monday, the fire has been consuming heavy fuels and carrying burning through more resistant fuels such as aspen and pasture, the incident team, led by commander Brian Pisarek, said.
The Minnesota Incident Command System Type 2 Blue Team assumed command earlier this week. The team is a more robust, federal team than the state-based Type 3 team that had been in place since July 31. It is using the Nucla Community Center for fire operations.
As the fire moves into timber, it has the potential for larger uphill runs, the incident team said.
Fuel moisture remains low, and there is still potential for severe fire behavior. Temperatures were expected to reach as high as 95 degrees, and relative humidity was expected to at 7-12 percent. Winds were blowing from the northwest at 4-7 mph, with occasional gusts. Chances of wetting rain remained near zero, though the absence of strong winds has kept the area out of a red flag warning.
The fire continued to be most active on the north, Mesa County side, where it was backing down drainages into Mesa Creek.
On Monday and Tuesday, crews performed defensive measures to protect Weimer Cow Camp and a cluster of houses northwest of the fire.
Tuesday, the fire grew about 12 percent in acreage. The fire continued to be most active on the north, Mesa County side and continued to back down the ridge at the South Fork Mesa Creek drainage.
The Roosevelt Hotshot crew was building fire line to limit the fire spread along the southwest flank.
On Wednesday, an additional hand crew planned to assist hand-line construction and holding the southwest section. Most of the crew activity and engine resources planned to focus on the northwest in structure protection.
Although the fire forced the evacuation of a home and several cabins this weekend, no structures have been lost, public information officer Kimberlee J. Phillips, of the U.S. Forest Service, said in a press release.
About 224 personnel were assigned to the fire as of Wednesday.
Because much of the terrain is steep and rugged, medical and extrication crews are staged to respond in the unfortunate event of an emergency.
The Bureau of Land Management implemented an emergency closure for the Bull Draw area, including Montrose County Roads S15, S17, R23, Z26, and all BLM roads, trails and land.
On Wednesday, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests announced the closure of 17 miles of Divide Road.
Smoke from the Bull Draw and Buttermilk fires was expected to impact residents in Delta and Montrose counties.
The Buttermilk Fire is burning in piñon/juniper vegetation in the rugged Lime Kiln drainage area 15 miles northeast of Montrose in the Red Canyon area.
On Wednesday, it was estimated at 746 acres, and containment was 70 percent. Firefighters continued to mop up hot spots.
