Gusty winds could increase fire behavior

SALIDA — Current Situation: Growth was minimal on the fire Wednesday.

On the west side, crews utilized Round Hill Trail and two-track roads to check the fire from advancing north.

The active fire on Simmons Peak continued to slowly back down toward  the Rainbow Trail into drainages, burning out interior pockets of dead and down timber. Crews are clearing the section of line near the intersection of the 101 road and the Rainbow Trail.

These actions are to meet the incident’s objective of keeping the fire in the Wilderness.
Thursday the Teton Wildland Fire Module and Juniper Valley hand crew prepped indirect line moving northwest to keep fire off private and BLM on the west side.

They also scouted for opportunities to use natural and existing control features. On the east side, Alpine Hotshots monitored fire spread toward the Rainbow Trail and implemented firing operations, where necessary.

Pike Hotshots and Wind Cave Engine 629 also scouted options for direct line to tie fire into a southern wet drainage of Bear Creek.
The U.S. Forest Service estimates the Sangre De Cristo Wilderness has up to 80 percent tree mortality from beetle-kill and blowdown.

The Decker Fire is removing high-risk fuels from the landscape, reducing future risk and restoring ecological balance to the forest. 
Due to steep inaccessible terrain and heavy fuels, we will continue to provide for our firefighters’ safety by engaging directly with the fire where the probability of success is high and firefighter exposure is minimized.
Mostly sunny skies, unseasonable warm temperatures and low relative humidity were expected Thursday. Winds were the main factor Thursday as southwest winds increased by mid-morning with gusts up to 39 m.p.h.

There was a chance of isolated thunderstorms after 1 p.m. which would bring erratic and gusty outflow winds and lightning to the fire area.  
The fire may be visible from both the U.S. 50 and U.S. 285 corridors. Motorists are asked to not stop in the roadway and be clear of the roadway before stopping to observe the fire. Please do not call 911 to report fire behavior on the Decker Fire or to request fire information.

A fire information line is available for fire updates. Please call 911 for emergencies only. 
Weather and fuel conditions: temperatures are expected to reach 70 degrees Thursday with humidity at 15-20 percent.

Winds were to be out of the southwest at 20-25 m.p.h. with gusts up to 38 m.p.h.

Winds were to shift west late afternoon and weaken slightly. Winds  are expected to remain elevated overnight.

Dry weather with unseasonably warm temperatures are likely through to next week.  
Evacuations and closures: portions of the 101 and 101A roads on National Forest system lands and the Rainbow Trail (1336 trail) south of 108 Road to the Stout Lakes Trail (1403 trail) have been closed. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been issued over the fire area to allow for aerial operations.

Remember, if you fly, we can’t. There are no evacuations at this time. Smoke may settle into the U.S. Highway 50 corridor in the late afternoons or evenings.

Drivers are encouraged to reduce speed near the fire if smoke affects visibility. 
Smoke: real-time smoke information is available at bit.ly/deckerfiresmokeinfo.

Current smoke forecast for Salida and Arkansas River Valley is available at wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/CentralColorado.