For Immediate Release July 6, 2004
Contact: Steven Hall 970-640-3451 
Montrose Interagency Dispatch 970-240-1070

McGruder Fire near Cedaredge burns 3,100 acres

MONTROSE, CO – The McGruder Fire, located 3 miles northeast of Cedaredge, is estimated at 3,100 acres following a day of cooler temperatures and cloud cover. A type II incident management team (Rocky Mountain Area Team A) will assume management of the fire at 10 p.m.

"Cooler temperatures and cloud cover helped keep the fire from growing as rapidly as it did yesterday," Montrose Interagency Fire Management Officer Steve Ellis said.

Approximately 95 firefighters were on the fire today, along with five Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) and two helicopters. Firefighters include three Montrose Interagency Fire engines and crews, two bulldozers and two hotshot crews, which arrived today. Ten municipal fire engines and crews from surrounding towns were also on the fire.

Firefighters created an anchor point last night near 4-5 structures that had been threatened. They began constructing fireline with "one foot in the black" using firefighters and bulldozers. Containment is estimated at 5-10 percent. No structures have been lost and the fire is moving away from homes and on to surrounding Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Grand Mesa National Forest land.

Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee has notified 129 residences of evacuations or possible evacuations. An evacuation shelter has being established at the Assembly of God Church in Cedaredge. Only two residences were evacuated yesterday.

The fire is burning in pinyon and juniper forest as well as sage brush. As it moves to the north the fire gains elevation, where vegetation is less dry. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Spotting caused by strong winds on the Tappan Fire, located 6 miles south of Montrose, reduced containment to 80 percent, after 100 percent containment had been achieved this morning. Two bulldozers, a helicopter and two SEATs continued working on the fire. No structures are threatened on the Tappan Fire, which is estimated to be 80 acres.

- BLM -