Grizzly Creek Fire Update September 8, 2020 Incident Commander: Norm McDonald

Start Date: 08/10/2020 Locaon: Cause: Human Fire Size: 32,464 acres Containment: 91% Total Personnel: 383

Facebook Live Community Meeting tonight at 6 p.m. Tune in to www.facebook.com/GrizzlyCreekFireCO for updates and a live Q&A with the Alaska IMT, the Type 3 Upper River Fire Management Organization, the incoming Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team, local officials and cooperating agencies.

(EAGLE, Colo.) – The Upper Fire Type 3 Organizaon will assume command of the fire on Wednesday, aer shadowing the Alaska Incident Management Team today. The teams are working closely with management agencies to ensure a smooth transion as priories shi from suppression to suppression repair.

The Type 3 Organizaon will be working cooperavely with the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team. BAER Teams, composed of resource specialists, are brought in to determine the need for, prescribe and, if necessary, implement emergency treatments to stabilize burned areas and watersheds.

Containment reached 91% as the southern perimeter of the fire in Devil’s Hole Creek drainage was completed. Crews have been patrolling this secon of line for days, cold-trailing and checking for heat.

Temperatures are expected to peak around 50 degrees this morning as the cold front pushes in from the north, with showers beginning as early as sunrise. Temperatures are slated to fall steadily throughout the day, reaching the 30s by early evening. Rain will turn to snow as forecast temperatures drop below freezing overnight, with accumulaons from 2 to 6 inches, and higher amounts expected over 10,000 feet.

Safety Officer Mike Bradley urged firefighters to exercise cauon as the freezing rain and snow will make for dangerous driving condions around the fire. Wintry storms and the aendant slippery roads and poor visibility are expected to connue into Wednesday and taper off.

Suppression repair connues around the fire, with excavators, dozers and hand crews working to return the fireline to a more natural state. Inclement weather is expected to slow progress.

The number of personnel working on the fire has dropped to 383. There are six crews, one helicopter, 21 engines, six excavators, five dozers, three water tenders and one skidgine sll working on the fire.

Fire closure areas have been reduced by the White River Naonal Forest and Colorado River Valley BLM office. Coffee Pot and Transfer Trail roads remain closed. Both closure orders and associated maps can be found here.

Interstate 70 remains open to two-way traffic. Go to cotrip.org for informaon on interstate closures.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place over the fire. Go to https://tfr.faa.gov for details.

Fire Informaon/Media Line: (970) 930-1850 Email: 2020.grizzlycreek@firenet.gov inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6942/ ♦ hps://www.facebook.com/GrizzlyCreekFireCO ♦ @fire_grizzly