The West Fork Complex, as the West Fork, Papoose and Windy Pass fires around Wolf Creek Pass are called, has increased to 93,776 acres, with firefighters facing a return to dry weather today.
The complex is about 4 percent contained, Laura McConnell with the Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team said Monday. “But the concern is that there is no moisture in the fuel.”
McConnell said temperatures are expected in the 80s in the fire zone today, compared with 73 Monday.
About 1,200 firefighters are going up against the three fires. One group is stationed near the Papoose Fire, the other in Del Norte.
The firefighters observed a moment of silence at 7 a.m. Monday in honor of the 19 members of a hot-shot team who were overwhelmed by flames Sunday while battling a fire near Yarnell, Ariz. The team was from nearby Prescott, Ariz.
“After the moment of silence, we had a stand down for two hours,” McConnell said. “It gave them a chance to reflect.
“We provide a stress-management team if someone wants to talk. But it’s a personal matter, and since they’re a tight family they talk among themselves.”
Further west, the Durango Interagency Fire Dispatch center said firefighters continue to respond to dozens of smoke reports, most of which have been sparked by lightning.
Many of the fires – a lone tree or less than one-tenth of an acre – have been contained or controlled, or both.
Two of the fires, the Deadwood Fire in La Plata Canyon and a fire at the Bureau of Land Management’s Bradfield Campground on the Dolores River, are believed to have been caused by people and are under investigation.
The West Fork Complex fires have led to several trail and road closures in the forest.
Mark De Gregorio with the incident management team for the east side of the West Fork Complex, said that in general, trails in the Weminuche Wilderness in Rio Grande National Forest are closed, but trails in the San Juan National Forest are open. Trails on the Pagosa District of the San Juan also are closed.
Stony Pass Road is closed from Colorado Highway 149 to the top of Stony Pass.
East Fork Road, Mill Creek, Wolf Creek and West Fork Road above the campground are closed.
daler@durangoherald.com
