(Courtesy photo). The fire is burning in steep and rugged terrain near the top of the slope in the Goose Creek drainage, south of Lake Humphreys.

MINERAL COUNTY — The Goose Creek Fire was reported at approximately 1:15 Sunday, June 28. It is burning several miles west of the Town of South Fork. The cause of the fire is currently listed as lighting. The fire is burning in steep and rugged terrain near the top of the slope in the Goose Creek drainage, south of Lake Humphreys.

Helicopters conducted numerous water drops on the fire June 28. The size of the fire as of June 29 was approximately 129 acres. Monday, June 29 a Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT) is managing the fire. Plans include a continued air attack with helicopters. Ground crews are developing alternative access options since the best access is near the top of the drainage and poses too high of a risk to firefighter safety.

The Rio Grande National Forest is currently under Stage 2 fire restrictions due to 0 percent of normal snowpack and severe drought conditions. The following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System lands within the Rio Grande National Forest located within Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Hinsdale, Mineral Rio Grande, Saguache and San Juan Counties, State of Colorado, (“the Restricted Area”) and on all roads and trails located with the Restricted Area. The purpose of this Order is to protect public health, safety, and natural resources by preventing wildfires.

PROHIBITIONS: This Order prohibits the following acts in the Restricted Area:

1) Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, including fires in developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas), charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves, and sheepherder’s stoves.

2) Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building.

3) Blasting, welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.

4) Operating or using any internal combustion engine without an effective and properly installed USDA- or Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)- approved spark arrestor.

5) Operating a chain saw without an effective and properly installed USDA- or SAE- approved spark arrestor, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum of 8 oz. capacity and rating of 2A) kept with the operator and a round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use.

6) Using an explosive. This includes but is not limited to fuses, blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, tracers and incendiary ammunition.

7) Possessing or using a motor vehicle off established roads, motorized trails or established parking areas, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle.