GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — The 32,464-acre Grizzly Creek Fire is 75% contained as of Tuesday morning.
An incident report for the fire says a passing storm that quickly generated wind gusts of 40 mph heightened concern on the fireline Sunday. Crews were pulled off the line at 2 p.m. due to the sudden turn in the weather.
No incidents or injuries were reported and firefighters were able to return to the line about an hour later after the storm passed, the report says.
Fire officials anticipated that fire lines would be challenged again on Monday as another weather system with gusty winds moves in.
Officials said much of the fire also received widespread precipitation Saturday – but the steep terrain, combined with a solid wetting rain, created treacherous working conditions on slopes and drainages.
Helicopters were required to deliver two additional crews to an uncontained section of the fire perimeter, where they are working on a fireline to connect the Grizzly Creek rim to the No Name Creek rim. These two drainages comprise some of the most dangerous terrain on this fire and continue to present a challenge to firefighters and fire manager
Crews have secured approximately 60 of the 80 miles of containment line and mop-up operations are ongoing, the report says.
Residents in communities around the Grizzly Creek Fire should stay aware of the fire’s dynamic changing conditions. Any time evacuation notices change or areas move into pre-evacuation status, the information will be shared at the Garfield County website at www.Garfield-county.com and Eagle County at ecemergency.org.
Pre-evacuations
• Bair Ranch
• Coffee Pot Springs
• No Name
• Buck Point Road
• Residences west and south of County Road 115
• Cottonwood Pass
• Ranch at Coulter Creek
• High Aspen Ranch
• Homestead Estates
• Spring Valley Ranch
• Lookout Mountain area southwest of Grizzly Creek Fire
Area road closures remain in effect with access for residents and fire traffic only. Coffee Pot Road, Transfer Trail Road and areas of the Flattops accessed by those roads are closed, as are many surrounding White River National Forest and BLM roads.
The Grizzly Creek Fire started burning Aug.10 in the canyon east of Glenwood Springs. It led to a record-long 2-week closure of Interstate 70 through that area between Glenwood Springs and Gypsum, before the highway reopened.
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