Middle Fork Fire Fact Sheet
Acres: 16,120
Incident Commander: Jeramy Dietz, Type 3 IMT
Fire Information: 970-439-4725
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7153/
Today’s Situation: The Middle Fork Fire remains mostly within the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness. The growth from yesterday’s weather pushed the fire mostly southeast and northwest, with some growth south. Management action points crossed have stimulated the Team to enact plans in place that use a more direct tactic. The addition of the type 1 helicopter with large bucket capability will expedite the success of suppression actions. Several more resources were ordered and are starting to arrive to act swiftly. Fire managers and the National Forest have increased the extent of the area closure to increase safety of public and firefighters. Please be aware of the additional trails and road that are closed now. Fire behavior today will be like yesterday. The incoming cold front is driving winds today and tomorrow with cooler weather on Sunday and the possibility of precipitation. Temperatures are projected above normal through the extended forecasted with low relative humidities. There will be smoke in the Steamboat Springs area resulting from the Mullen, Cameron Peak and Middle Fork fires.
Weather: Mostly sunny skies with highs between 67-72 degrees and relative humidity of 10 - 15%. Winds are out of the west to southwest at 8-12 mph with gusts up to 20-25 mph in the afternoon. Mostly clear night skies with lows between 35-40 degrees and relative humidity of 30-35%.
Fire Behavior: Extreme with crowning and spotting events in timbered areas.
Firefighting Resources: Approximately 90 personnel are assigned to the fire, including five helicopters (three Type 1, one type 2, and one Type 3) and a fixed-wing air attack to help coordinate aerial operations.
Evacuations: There are no evacuation or pre-evacuation orders in effect. If the fire were to reach any pre-identified management action points, it would trigger Routt County Sheriff’s Office to initiate pre-evacuation orders through their reverse-911 system. To sign up for alerts, visit http://routtcountyalerts.com. The county provides tips for wildfire preparedness, including planning for pets and livestock, on their website at http://www.co.routt.co.us/309/Fire-Safety-Tips-for-Rural-Residents.
Forest Closure: Routt National Forest has issued an area closure. The closure boundary follows Mount Zirkel Wilderness boundary on east. On the south it follows Trail 1132 (Newcomb Creek), Trail 1101 (CDNST), the Wilderness boundary, and Trails 1100 (Swamp Park), 1140 (Saddle), 1140.1A (Saddle Cut-off), and 1171 (Red Dirt). On the west it follows the boundary between National Forest and private lands east of Big Creek from Red Dirt Trailhead to Trail 1176 (Roaring Fork) and continues north along the Wilderness boundary. On the north it follows the North Fork Drainage up to The Dome, east to Lost Ranger Peak, CDNST, and Trail 1131 (Lost Ranger). Trails 1131, 1132, 1166, and 1140 are open. Portion of Trails 1100 and 1171 are open where they follow the closure boundary, closed where they enter the closed area. No roads or trailheads are closed.
Closed Roads Include:
Closed trails include:
- Appx. 10 miles of CDNST from 1132 to 1131
- 1130 Rainbow Lake
- 1179 Roxy Ann Lake
- 1099 Ditch Creek
- 1100 and 1100.4A Swamp Park (within Wilderness Area only)
- 1118 Elk Park
- 1131 Buffalo Pass
- 1140.A Saddle Cutoff
- 1206 Summit Park
- 1168 Luna Lake
- 1168.1 Fish Hawk Lake
- 1170 Chilton
- 1182 Crags
- 1184 Big Creek Lake
- 1171 Red Dirt past Trail 1140 intersection
Fire Restrictions: Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are in effect in Routt and Jackson counties, on all of the Routt National Forest, and across much of Northwest Colorado.