{"id":53279,"date":"2020-06-14T15:13:33","date_gmt":"2020-06-14T21:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/mandatory-evacuations-ordered-for-fire-near-la-plata-montezuma-county-line\/"},"modified":"2020-06-14T21:13:33","modified_gmt":"2020-06-14T21:13:33","slug":"mandatory-evacuations-ordered-for-fire-near-la-plata-montezuma-county-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/mandatory-evacuations-ordered-for-fire-near-la-plata-montezuma-county-line\/","title":{"rendered":"Mandatory evacuations ordered for fire near La Plata-Montezuma county line"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Jerry
Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<br><br>The East Canyon Fire provoked a type-3 response, including an aerial attack, smoke-jumpers and ground crews.<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

A wildfire that broke out Sunday east of Mancos has grown to more than 200 acres, prompting evacuations and a robust firefighting response.<\/p>\n

Connie Clementson, the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s Tres Rios Field Manager, said the fire was initially reported as being on Menefee Mountain, but upon further investigation, the more exact location is a ridgeline east of Menefee, between the East Canyon subdivision and Cherry Creek Road.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is an area that has not had a lot of fire, so there\u2019s some good fuel in there,\u201d Clementson said. \u201cSo we\u2019re expecting an active fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jerry
Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<br><br>The East Canyon Fire broke out Sunday east of Mancos, prompting evacuations and a robust firefighting response.<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The blaze has been named the \u201cEast Canyon Fire.\u201d It was located about 20 miles west of Durango, spanning the La Plata-Montezuma county line. Clementson said the fire was sparked by lightning Saturday, starting on private land then moving on to BLM land.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe obviously have an initial attack going on, which is going to be pretty aggressive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Clementson ordered a type-3 response, including an aerial attack, smoke-jumpers and ground crews. More firefighting resources are expected to arrive in the region Sunday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re getting ready to meet with the team,\u201d Clementson said around 8 p.m. \u201cWe\u2019ll make a plan for tactics and move it forward tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clementson did not have an update on the success of Sunday\u2019s initial attack.<\/p>\n

\"Jerry
Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<br><br>Firefighters wait for the word to begin fighting the remote East Canyon Fire on Sunday in west La Plata County.<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Vicki Shaffer, Montezuma County spokeswoman, said residents in the Elk Springs subdivision, which includes county roads 46 and G.3, have been issued a mandatory evacuation. Shaffer also said residents on the north end of Cherry Creek Road have started to evacuate. In all, about 23 homes were evacuated, she said.<\/p>\n

Residents have been asked to evacuate to the Mancos Fire Station for registration. A telephone hotline for help has been established at (970) 385-8700.<\/p>\n

Clementson said the fire is burning in a remote area, but there are subdivision and homes in the vicinity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just being careful and cautious,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Jerry
Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<br><br>The East Canyon Fire on Sunday in west La Plata County.<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Smoke is prominent and visible from U.S. Highway 160 and Montezuma County Road 46. The smoke looked like wispy clouds hanging on the western horizon from Durango city limits. A flight ban has been implemented for the area in question, Shaffer said.<\/p>\n

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality health advisory from 4 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Monday, encouraging people to stay indoors and limit outside activities, especially for vulnerable populations like those with respiratory or heart disease, children and senior citizens.<\/p>\n

CDPHE said smoke is expected to move northeast of the fire, creating heavy smoke in western La Plata County. Moderate to heavy smoke is also expected to settle over Mancos. If visibility is less than 5 miles, smoke has reached unhealthy levels.<\/p>\n

\"Jerry
Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<br><br>The East Canyon Fire on Sunday in west La Plata County.<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Firefighting crews are also dedicating resources to another blaze that had burned about 13 acres, the \u201cLoading Pen Fire,\u201d located between Stoner Mesa and Hay Camp Mesa, said Esther Godson, spokeswoman for the Forest Service.<\/p>\n

Aerial and grounds crews have been sent to fight that fire, which was also started by lightning Saturday.<\/p>\n

Emergency managers are prioritizing resources based on need, Godson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first flurry of fires of the season,\u201d she said. \u201cBut what we have going for us is that we were all very prepared. It\u2019s highly likely we\u2019ll be sharing resources and coordinating as air space opens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jerry
Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald<br><br>The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the Mancos area Monday and Tuesday.<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Firefighters are unlikely to receive much help from Mother Nature, said Jeff Colton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the next several days, it\u2019s going to be hot, dry and windy,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is little relief in sight. It\u2019s going to be a tough battle for the next few days.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NWS has issued a red flag warning for the Mancos area Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures will be in the 80s, wind gusts could reach 15 to 30 mph and there is zero chance for precipitation.<\/p>\n

\"The
The East Canyon Fire put up a large column of smoke Sunday afternoon in eastern Montezuma County.<\/span>Courtesy of Jeanette Haas<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Overnight humidity, which typically increases and helps slow the fire, is also expected to be low, Colton said. A seven-day model does not show any chance of rains hitting the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be critical fire conditions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

After a widespread lightning storm passed the region Saturday, about a half-dozen fires were reported in areas around Cortez, Dove Creek and Mancos on Sunday.<\/p>\n

jromeo@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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